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 Ferdinand 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 defense 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 applications 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 a continuation of trial.