Ajumogobia lawyer stalled trial for lack of composure
The trial of a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia before a Lagos State High Court Ikeja on Monday was stalled as her counsel, Mr. Olawole Akoni, SAN, informed the court that he was not composed to go through the scheduled trial.
Justice Ajumogobia was charged along with Godwin Obla, SAN on a 26-count charge of unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, offering gratification and forgery.
The duo has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and have since been granted bail by the trial judge, Justice Oshodi.
At the resume of the proceedings on yesterday, prosecution witness, Ademola Oshodi continued his narrative of how he helped Justice Ajumogobia to deposit huge sums of money into her personal and company account.
In his evidence, Oshodi gave detailed account of money inflow and outflow on the account of Justice Ajumogobia domicile with Diamond Bank.
After the witness concluded his evidence, a member of the defence team, Bolaji Kuti asked the court for a stand-down as the lead counsel, Mr. Akoni was attending to another matter before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
As the judge was listening to both parties on how long the stand-down should last, Mr. Akoni walked into the courtroom.
Akoni gave reasons for his coming late, and also informed the court that he would not be able to commence the cross-examination of the prosecution witness on the ground that he was not ‘composed’.
EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo however opposed the move saying that it is improper for a court to adjourned a matter simply because a senior advocate was not ‘compose’.
Oyedepo said that Akoni had earlier gone to the Federal high court at Ikoyi to conduct a court proceeding and that it would be unfair for him to say that he is not prepared to go on with the trial.
He insisted that instead of adjourning the matter, the court should stand the matter down for some moment to allow the senior advocate to recompose himself.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi adjourned that matter to March 10, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Earlier Justice Oshodi granted an order permitting the second defendant Godwin Obla to travel abroad for an undisclosed reason.
Oshodi insisted that Obla must return his international passport to the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judiciary before March 6, 2017.
