EFCC UNCOVERS HOW JUDGE GOT N18 MILLION FROM AN OIL FIRM





There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has got a major lead into how one of the judge being investigated obtained N18 million from the Managing Director of a leading oil and gas company to buy a house in London while still serving as a Federal High Court judge.

According to the reports published by Vanguard, the EFCC stumbled on the fresh lead while interrogating Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, one of the six judges being probed over alleged corrupt practices.

Justice ARita who turned in herself in for questioning last month reportedly admitted that she actually got the said N18 million as a soft loan from a ‘family friend’ who happened to be a major player in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry, with a view to buying a house in the United Kingdom.

An EFCC source who spoke with Vanguard said the amount was wired to a foreign account from the judge’s domiciliary account for the purchase of a property in the UK.

Though the anti graft agency did not disclose the location of the property in the UK, apparently not to hinder investigation.

To get to the root of the alleged loan, the report adds that the EFCC has began questioning of MD of the firm.

The MD was spotted at the at the office of the commission last night according to the report and it was.

The source added that the money was transferred by the businessman to Justice Ajumogobia’s account in 2012, pointing out that there was no paper to indicate that it was a loan, as claimed by her.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity he said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has uncovered yet another bogus financial transaction by one of the six judges under investigation, Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia.

“The Commission stumbled on the N18 million wired to a foreign account from her domiciliary account for the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom.

“Justice Ajumogobia owned up to the money but claimed it was a loan obtained privately from a family friend.

“The ‘family friend’, who is Chairman of an Oil and Gas Company from where the funds emanated, has been invited by the commission for questioning. So far, he has told operatives that the money was an assistance he rendered to her.