JUSTICE OFILI-AJUMOGOBIA IS REHIRED BY THE NJC AS AN FHC JUDGE.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia has been appointed a judge of the Federal High Court once more by the National Judicial Council, or NJC.

The governing body’s judgment was supported by a court ruling that dismissed a 15-count money laundering indictment the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, had brought against the troubled judge.

You may recall that the NJC had authorized the prosecution of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as a result of a petition filed on December 28, 2017, in which she was charged with a number of offenses under the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

President Muhammadu Buhari terminated Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judge of the Federal High Court on November 7, 2018, in the exercise of his constitutional authority under Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, based on the Council’s recommendation.

However, in a decision issued on November 19, 2021, the trial high court absolved the defendant of the allegation leveled against her as a result of a motion by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

The court cited a ruling that invalidated the NJC report that charged the defendant, which was issued in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2018 on November 28, 2019.

Following the court ruling, the NJC approved the reinstatement of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to the bench at the conclusion of its meeting on December 1. Chief Judge of the High Court Justice John Tsoho carried out the NJC’s decision.

In a circular that Vanguard was able to see, Justice Tsoho stated that Justice Ofili-reinstatement Ajumogobia’s was effective right now.

The December 5 circular stated: “Your Lordships are thus notified that the Hon. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia was reinstated as a Judicial Officer at the Meeting of the National Judicial Council held on December 1, 2022.

“The reinstatement is effective immediately, and there will be a posting of consequences.”