Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos rejected an ex parte application by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia seeking immediate release from the custody of the Ecomomic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had been detained by the EFCC while they probe the source of about $798,800 which the EFCC claimed passed through the judge’s domiciliary account between 2012 and 2015.
The EFCC alleged that the judge received a gratification of N5m from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, at a time when the SAN had a case before the judge.
The anti-graft agency had filed 30 counts against both the judge and the SAN before the Lagos State High Court.
The EFCC claimed that the judge used the money to buy a house in London, adding that the judge failed to explain the source of her wealth.
On Monday, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanho (SAN) appeared before Justice Muslim Hassan with an ex parte application seeking the immediate release of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that the continued detention of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia in the EFCC custody was a violation of the judge’s fundamental rights.
He argued that the EFCC ought to have charged her to court if it had any case against her.
The SAN said his client had shown the readiness to defend herself against any charge that the EFCC might press against her.
He maintained that the EFCC should either immediately charge his client to court or release her immediately.
“The EFCC has the option to charge her to court but it has not done so. She has also stated that she is ready to defend herself vigorously against any charge that may be slammed on her. She is ready to deposit her passport and abide by any other conditions that the court may impose on her. There is no need, under the law, to continue to keep her in detention except to humiliate her because the offence is a bailable one,” Onigbanjo said.
Onigbanjo urged Justice Hassan to either order the EFCC to immediately take his client before a court if it had any charges against her or to order the EFCC to immediately release her if it was not ready to do so.
But Justice Hassan declined granting the application, saying it would only be fair to first hear from the EFCC.
He directed Onigbanjo to put the EFCC on notice and adjourned the case till November 28, 2016.
Justice Hassan said, “The prayers being sought cannot be heard by motion ex parte.”