I DON’T KNOW WHY CUSTOMS PAID JUSTICE AJUMOGOBIA N12MILLION

A Nigerian Customs Officer, Mr Musa Tahir on Thursday told an Ikeja High Court that he did not know the purpose for which N12million was paid into the bank account of embattled judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia By the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Tahir, made this assertion as he was being cross-examined by Mr Olawale Akoni (SAN) during the ongoing trial of the judge.

“I have seen Hon. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia but I have never met her one on one, I don’t know why the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) said the money should be paid into my colleague Musa Omale’s account to be forwarded into the company account of the judge.

“I don’t have the paper in which the CGC wrote the directive, the paper was handed over to Omale who worked in my office.

“I don’t know the source of the money, the CGC who gave the directive is still alive,” Tahir said.

Tahir, while giving his evidence-in-chief on May 26, had told the court that the NCS had paid N12million sourced from 12 Area Commands into the bank account of the judge.

After Tahir was cross-examined during Thursday’s proceedings, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that the prosecution had filed late, an additional list of witnesses and had just served the defence that morning.

The EFCC prosecutor said the proof of evidence of their next witness, one Dr Olumuyiwa Solanke was served late on the defence by their team due to a regrettable omission.

“Our next witness is one Dr Olumuyiwa Solanke, whose proof of evidence was filed and served on the defence this morning.

“It is the constitutional right of the defence to adequately prepare for their defence.

“I have to apologise to the defence for filing Solanke’s proof of evidence just this morning, it was omitted from the file from where I made copies of the other witness statements which were earlier filed.

“I would not be opposing to their request for an adjournment,” he said.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi then adjourned the case until Sep. 29 for continuation of trial.