Ofili-Ajumogobia Reinstated As Judge After Dismissal For Alleged Fraud Case

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia has been reinstated as a Judge of the Federal High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

CityNews Nigeria reports that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, made this known in a circular dated Monday, December 5, 2023.

In the circular sent to all Judges of the Federal High Court, Justice Tsoho said the reinstatement of  Ofili-Ajumogobia is with immediate effect.

The Chief Judge also copied the Chief Registrar of the court as well as the Director of Library and Deputy Director of Finance and Accounts.

“Your Lordships are by this circular letter notified that at the meeting of the National Judicial Council held on the 1st of December, 2022, the council reinstated the Hon. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judicial officer.

“The reinstatement takes instant effect and there shall be consequential posting,” the circular reads.

Recall that in 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the judge on charges bordering on money laundering and breach of public trust.

However, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court struck out corruption charges against her.

In his ruling in April 2019, Oshodi struck out the 31-count charge bordering on alleged perversion of the course of justice, unlawful enrichment, and forgery on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

The charges were filed by the EFCC against Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla.

In 2018, the NJC dismissed Ofili-Ajumogobia from the service of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) on the grounds of alleged judicial misconduct.

Dissatisfied, she instituted a suit before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court, challenging the process adopted by the fact-finding committee of the NJC that recommended her dismissal.

She prayed the court to declare her dismissal unconstitutional, null, and void.