NJC disciplines Justice Ajumogobia

National Judicial Council (NJC) has Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court barred from aspiring to the Court of Appeal throughout her entire career. Justice Ofili- Ajumogobia has been put under
 NJC’s ‘watch list’ for four years on offences described by the judiciary’s highest body as misconduct and injustice. The barred judge, formerly of the Ogun Judicial Division, refused to deliver judgement in an election petition having adjourned the matter twice for judgement. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was accused of abusing her judicial powers when she refused to deliver judgement in the election petition suit after parties in the suit No. FHC/ AB/CS/31/2011, had argument on May 22, 2012 in Abeokuta.
The judgement, which was first fixed for judgement on July 10, 2012 and June 14, 2014 never, saw the light of the day, as the judge never gave her verdict on the matter. Angered that justice was denied in the matter, a party, Mrs. Victoria A. A. Ayeni wired a petition to the NJC. Ayeni, an aspirant for the Ogun State House of Assembly, accused Justice Ofili-Agumogobia of a ‘compromising posture’ and asked the NJC to investigate the judge, insisting that the judge twisted her judicial powers against her since 2011. Besides, she accused the judge of deliberately delaying the matter filed on June 2, 2011 through an Originating Summons, but hearing never commenced until May 22, 2013 after seven adjournments. This, Ayeni said, was obvious that the judge compromised her position as while waiting for the commencement of the matter, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was transferred to the Lagos Judicial Division, adding that it took several months before the Chief Judge directed that the matter be concluded.

Source: AIT