Money laundering: EFCC begins manhunt for Justice Ajumogobia’s children

•Storms judge’s home to arrest them •Judge seeks bail variation

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is hot on the heels of two children of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who are allegedly linked to multi-million money laundering case against their mother.

Early Wednesday morning, operatives of the commission stormed the home of the embattled judge to effect the arrest of the children.

Nigerian Tribune was told last night by a top commission source that the children, who were linked with the alleged money laundering saga involving their mother, had allegedly refused to obey summons by the commission to appear at its Lagos office for interrogation.

The summons was reportedly served on the children through their mother.


“They refused to honour our invitation. So the operatives were at the house to arrest the children. We didn’t go there for her (Ajumogobia) as being reported. It wasn’t a raid. We went to effect an arrest,” the source said.

When asked if the children were nabbed, the source answered in the negative, adding that the commission was on their trail to arrest them.

“We have not officially declared them wanted, but we are seriously looking for them,” the source stated.

Spokesperson of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, simply confirmed the presence of the operatives at the judge’s home.

At about 5.00 a.m on Wednesday, operatives of the commission, armed with a search warrant signed by a magistrate, surrounded the house at 18B, Lai Ajayi Bembe Street, Park View Estate, Lagos.

The EFCC had arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia alongside Mr Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on November 28, before Justice O.H. Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on a 30-count charge ranging from conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, offering gratification to a public official and unlawful enrichment by public official, among others.

Ajumogobia and Obla were in EFCC detention since early November before they were arraigned.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were granted bail in the sum of N20 million and on self-recognisance, but another court of coordinate jurisdiction threw out Ajumogobia’s fundamental rights suit.

Meanwhile, Ajumogobia will be approaching the trial Federal High Court today to seek a variation to her bail conditions.

She was granted bail by Justice Hakeem Oshodi on self-recognisance but asked to deposit N20 million in the Chief Registrar’s account or risk a revocation of her bail.

Nigerian Tribune learnt last night that the case, which is coming up today, will see the embattled judge ask for variation, since she had not been able to meet the N20 million deposit aspect of her bail.