This Mansion Belongs To A Female Judge?... EFCC Moves To Take Over.
A controversial Federal High Court Judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, risks losing mansions said to be worth about N500m if she fails to explain to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission where she got the money to buy the houses.
Impeccable sources within the commission said a mansion located at 18 Lai Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Ikoyi, Lagos was traced to the judge while another property on Atlantic Drive, UPDC Estate, Lekki, which has been marked by the EFCC, also belongs to the female judge.
How did a woman who's earning government salary get these properties?
Impeccable sources within the commission said a mansion located at 18 Lai Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Ikoyi, Lagos was traced to the judge while another property on Atlantic Drive, UPDC Estate, Lekki, which has been marked by the EFCC, also belongs to the female judge.
How did a woman who's earning government salary get these properties?
When Punch visited the property located at Ikoyi, it observed that the property which is a two-storey building stands close to the house of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who is in the EFCC custody.
A source at the EFCC said the Ikoyi property was searched and incriminating documents were found.
It was learnt that the judge’s property which is a two-storey building with a detached quarters, costs over N350m while the one in Lekki costs over N120m.
The source at the EFCC said, “When we first invited her, she told us that she was ill and had been admitted at the Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi. When we visited the place, we found out that she was not there."
The source continued, “When asked where she got the money to build such a house, she said she got some money from her son who won a case against the London Police. She also gave some explanations which we are trying to verify."
Funny enough, “The Deed of Agreement is in someone else’s name but it carries her signature.”A source at the EFCC said the Ikoyi property was searched and incriminating documents were found.
It was learnt that the judge’s property which is a two-storey building with a detached quarters, costs over N350m while the one in Lekki costs over N120m.
The source at the EFCC said, “When we first invited her, she told us that she was ill and had been admitted at the Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi. When we visited the place, we found out that she was not there."
The source continued, “When asked where she got the money to build such a house, she said she got some money from her son who won a case against the London Police. She also gave some explanations which we are trying to verify."
Speaking further on the second home at Lekki, the detective said the judge claimed the house was not hers but a rented property.
He said, “At the Lekki home located at the UPDC Estate, she claimed the property was rented but we don’t believe it so we have marked the building and it is under investigation.”
In fact, the source said another property in London had been traced to her.
He said the house was hurriedly paid for despite the fact that the mortgage taken on the property was supposed to elapse in 2018.
He said although her name was not written on the title documents, a company allegedly belonging to the judge was used in buying the property.
The source said the property was worth hundreds of thousands of British pounds.
He added, “We found out that she is a director in a company known as Silver Step Incorporated and that was the name used in buying the London property. The property was bought on mortgage and it was supposed to elapse in 2018. However, payment was completed in 2014.”
On Tuesday night, EFCC stumbled on a transaction involving N18m ($120,000 as of 2012) wired to a foreign account from her domiciliary account for the purchase of the London property in 2012.
It would be recalled that same judge, Ofili-Ajumogobia, last year acquitted Femi Fani-Kayode, who had been brought before her by the EFCC for alleged money laundering and embezzlement of funds to the tune of N100m.
Also, following allegations of misconduct leveled against her regarding an election matter, the NJC barred her from receiving any promotion for the remainder of her career.
He said, “At the Lekki home located at the UPDC Estate, she claimed the property was rented but we don’t believe it so we have marked the building and it is under investigation.”
In fact, the source said another property in London had been traced to her.
He said the house was hurriedly paid for despite the fact that the mortgage taken on the property was supposed to elapse in 2018.
He said although her name was not written on the title documents, a company allegedly belonging to the judge was used in buying the property.
The source said the property was worth hundreds of thousands of British pounds.
He added, “We found out that she is a director in a company known as Silver Step Incorporated and that was the name used in buying the London property. The property was bought on mortgage and it was supposed to elapse in 2018. However, payment was completed in 2014.”
On Tuesday night, EFCC stumbled on a transaction involving N18m ($120,000 as of 2012) wired to a foreign account from her domiciliary account for the purchase of the London property in 2012.
It would be recalled that same judge, Ofili-Ajumogobia, last year acquitted Femi Fani-Kayode, who had been brought before her by the EFCC for alleged money laundering and embezzlement of funds to the tune of N100m.
Also, following allegations of misconduct leveled against her regarding an election matter, the NJC barred her from receiving any promotion for the remainder of her career.
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