The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday terminated the prosecution of Chief Godwin Obla SAN after amending the charge preferred against him, and subsequently removed his name from the charge sheet.
The suit with Charge No: FHC/L/139C/ 2019 dated 17 April, 2019 between FRN v.1. Hon Justice Rita Ofili Ajumuogobia and Godwin Obla until the latest development is before Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The suit in question was allegedly instituted by the immediate suspended/Former Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Blueprint recalls that Chief Obla SAN was charged along with Hon. Justice Rita Ajumuogobia on allegations of offering a Judge bribe allegation that he paid a bribe of N5, 000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) for judicial favours in a criminal trial – Charge No: FHC/L/C/482C/10 between FRN V. Temisan Omatseye.
Chief Godwin Obla SAN, formerly foremost EFCC special prosecutor it would be recall made 46 appearances between 2010 and 2016 for six years on behalf of EFCC.
Earlier, Obla had argued that the charge ought not to have been filed in the first instance, noting that the Charge Sheet and the proof of evidence does not bear out any allegation of possible bribery payments to Hon. Justice Ajumogobia in return for judicial any favours.
Obla was quoted as saying, “The allegation was spurious, unfounded and, frankly ridiculous. That i paid a bribe of N5, 000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) to the Judge to obtain a favorable judgment?
“While reacting on the new development in a personal statement, Obla said, “My history of service to the country in this regard is public knowledge and no temporary setback or personal misunderstanding is enough to obviate it.
“For many years and before the advent of the present administration, I have carried the mantra of anti-corruption practitioner and Prosecutor for EFCC. My time and resources will always be available to the Nigerian state within the strict parameters of the Rule of Law.”
Prior to this time, Obla SAN was one of the frontline Prosecutors for the Commission and he performed the EFCC’s instruction.
Also, Obla was a member of eminent lawyers constituted to investigate and prosecute various entities known as the “Halliburton Parties” (Technip, Snamprogetti, Kellog Brown, and Root, MARUBENI and the Japan Gas Corporation) by the then Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan. It was led by the erstwhile President of the Nigerian Bar Association, J.B. Daudu SAN.
He had also undertaken a lot of high profile prosecutions during the tenure of AIG Mrs. Farida Waziri (Rtd) including but not limited to the Central Bank of Nigeria/EFCC prosecution of bank Chiefs and was involved in the prosecution of Cecilia Ibru, formerly MD, Oceanic Bank Plc, Chief Alao Akala, former Governor of Oyo State, Musbau Ikuforiji the former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and a host of other matters on the instruction of the EFCC.
