The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has ruled on a preliminary objection filed by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia challenging her trial before the court.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa ruled that justice Rita is no longer a judicial officer because she has been dismissed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC), therefore she can be tried for any criminal offence accused of.

Justice Rita had filled an application before the court, challenging its jurisdiction on the grounds she is still a judicial officer, and until she ceases to be she could not be tried by a court.

Justice Aikawa stated that with the letter presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the President had already dismissed justice Ofili on the 6th of Nov 2018, and therefore she was no longer a judicial officer.