How account opening requirements were waived for Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, by witness
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has been told how requirements for opening a corporate account were waived for Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia account.
A Deputy Branch Manager of Diamond Bank, Ademola Oshodi, disclosed this yesterday at the ongoing trial of Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, over alleged corruption.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed Ofili-Ajumogobia a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.
Also, EFCC alleged that Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, while serving as a justice of the Federal High Court, Lagos, unjustly enriched herself by illegally receiving $793,800 from various sources between 2012 and 2015 in three Diamond Bank accounts.
Obla is facing trial on a two-count charge of offering gratification of N5 million to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia while sitting as a judge.While being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Oshodi said:
“Ofili-Ajumogobia is the signatory to the account Nigel and Colive which is a corporate account.“The account opening forms were filled by myself but executed and signed by Ofili-Ajumogobia, the forms were filled in my office.
“I did not meet any of the directors of the company as at the time I was opening the account. The company is into general business and is located at No. 18, Lai Ajayi Bembe Road, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.”
The Diamond staff also told the court how he made cash deposits ranging from N900, 000 to N8.8 million on behalf of the judge.After giving his evidence, counsel to Ajumogobia, Omotola Akanni, requested for permission to cross-examine Oshodi at the next date of adjournment.
“I hereby request for time to cross-examine the witness at the next adjourned date, I just came in from a proceeding at the Federal High Court and I need time to settle and prepare adequately.”
The presiding judge granted his request and adjourned to March 10, 2017 for cross-examination of the prosecution witness.Before adjournment, counsel to Obla, Mr. I.A Adedipe requested that the international passport of his client earlier handed over to the court as part of his bail conditions be released to enable him travel abroad.While granting the application, Justice Oshodi said “prayer one of the application before this honourable court is granted.’
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