The trial of Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate
of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla continued today, April 28, 2017 before
Justice O.H. Oshodi of Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja with
the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo calling on the fifth and sixth
prosecution witnesses.
The fifth prosecution witness, Mr. Musa Omale Ujah who is an Assistant
Comptroller of Customs in its Head Quarter office told the court how
he was instructed by the former Nigeria Customs Service boss,
Abdullahi Dikko Inde to pay N12million into “NIGEL AND COLIVE
INCORPORATED” account, a company belonging to Justice Ajumogobia.
The prosecution witness, Mr. Musa Ujah revealed to the court that the
money was paid into his account which he later transferred to the
company’s account.
Although, he confessed he did not have an idea the purpose of the
payment, he said no goods or services were rendered to or received
from “NIGEL AND COLIVE INCORPORATED” that warranted the transaction.
Furthermore, the sixth prosecution witness, Mr. Robinson Imafidoh, the
head of regulatory liaison and compliance unit of UBA bank, HQ, gave
evidence in court of how N16.5million was transferred on 18th of May,
2015 and N5million on 16th of May, 2015 into an account from “ESJ
Integrated Service” which Godwin Obla was signatory to.
Counsels to the first and second defendants, Robert Clarke, SAN and
Ferdinard O. Obi, SAN, did not object when the prosecution counsel
sought to tender the statement of account as an exhibit which Godwin
Obla was a signatory.
The defence counsels however asked the court for an adjournment as to
enable them file and serve their new intended applications after they
both withdrew the pending applicatons that would allow both defendants
travel out of the country for medical treatment and check.
Justice Oshodi struck out the pending applications and adjourned the
matter to May 26, 2017 for continuation of trial.