Embattled Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia told a Federal High Court in Lagos on
She said she remains a judge because she has not been officially dismissed by Muhammadu Buhari through the presidential approval which should be gazetted.
The judge, who is seeking the court to decline jurisdiction to try her for alleged money laundering, argues that a serving judge cannot undergo trial until formally dismissed.
Ofili-Ajumogobia’s lawyer, Robert Clarke (SAN), who argued her objection, faulted a letter from the presidency confirming that she had been dismissed.
Clarke argued that the letter which was tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and not the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
Clarke also argued that the letter was supposed to be a private document since it is marked ‘restricted’. “The prosecution has failed to show that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is not a judge of the Federal High Court.
“Until that is resolved, your Lordship’s hands are tied with regards to the Nganjiwa case,” Clarke said while referring to an appeal court judgment which held that a sitting judge cannot be tried.
The anti-corruption agency arraigned Ofili-Ajumogobia on an 18-count charge, accusing her, among others, of indirectly concealing N12million in an account despite knowing that it is a proceed of ‘unlawful enrichment’.
The presiding judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, adjourned till Friday, June 28, for