Tag Archives: Justice Ademola

FG appeals judgement that acquitted Justice Ademola, files fresh corruption charge.

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The federal government has filed an appeal against the decision of a federal high court in Abuja that exonerated Adeniyi Ademola, a judge; Olabowale, his wife and John Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Ademola is accused of receiving bribes to give favourable judgements.

On Wednesday, Jude Okeke, a judge, cleared Ademola, his wife and Agi of all allegations.

But according to NAN, a source in the presidency confirmed that government had filed an appeal.

Government was also said to have filed a case in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) against Ademola and wife “for living above their means and failure to declare their assets”.

“Section 53 (1) of the ICPC Act raises a presumption that any gratification accepted or obtained by an accused person must have been corruptly accepted or obtained until the contrary is proved. Section 60 of the Act does not apply to the case,” the source was quoted to have said

“Of interest is the decision of the learned trial judge that the offence of giving and receiving gratification was not made out by the prosecution against the defendants in the face of the evidence held in court.

“Prosecution witnesses gave testimony of the payment of N30 Million in three tranches by Mr Joe Agi (SAN), into the account of Mrs Olabowale Ademola, the wife of Justice Ademola. Agi was a legal practitioner who actually had cases in the court of Justice Ademola.

“The defendants, however, claim that the money was a gift from common friends for the benefit of Justice Ademola and Mrs Ademola to support the wedding of their daughter.”

The source said for Ademola to have two licenses for a firearm ought to have concerns despite the fact that judge dismissed it.

“In this case, a new licence was tendered in a situation where Justice Ademola ought to have tendered a renewal of his old licence. Being in possession of two licences in respect of the same firearm ought to have raised some questions for the defendants to resolve,” the source said.

 

Source: The Cable

Court acquits Justice Ademola on 18-count corruption charge

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Jude Okeke, justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, Abuja has acquitted Adeniyi Ademola, a suspended federal high court judge, of corruption charges.

The judge declared Ademola not guilty on an 18-count charge of corruption and illegal possession of firearm brought against him by the federal government.

Okeke in his ruling on the no-case submission of the defendants, held that the prosecution did not adduce enough evidence to warrant the defendants to enter defence.

He said the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against the defendants, and held that no iota of evidence to prove that the defendants were guilty of the charges levelled against them.

Okeke told the prosecution to carry out proper investigations before suspects are arraigned.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had raided the Abuja residence of Ademola in October, and the attorney-general of the federation filed a suit against him and Olubowale, his wife, few weeks later.

The government had alleged that Ademola abused his position as a judge, and that he received monetary favours from lawyers who had cases at his court.

During his trial in February, a witness claimed that Kola Awodein, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyers, gave the judge N500,000 during the “missing certificate suit” of the president.

Although, Buhari’s lawyer admitted to giving Ademola the money, he said it was a gift for his daughter’s wedding.

On Wednesday, the court acquitted him of all the charges.

The government has also filed charges of false asset declaration and abuse of office against Ademola at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

News circulating that President Buhari bribed Justice Ademola is false – Presidency

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The Presidency on Wednesday said there was no truth in the reports that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kola Awodein, gave Justice Niyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, currently standing trial for alleged corruption, N500,000.00 at the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari during the certificate issue affecting the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, recalled that Buhari challenged the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011, up to the Supreme Court and was never named as trying to compromise any judge.

He said any attempt to sully that reputation was bound to fail.

The presidential spokesman said even Awodein himself had denied the allegation.

“Nigerians know that President Buhari challenged the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011, up to the Supreme Court, and not once was he named as trying to compromise any Judge, though some of them were his schoolmates, or contemporary, at one time or the other.

“It is in keeping with the President’s time-tested reputation as a man of truth and integrity. Any attempt to sully that reputation is bound to fail, inexorably,” he said.

Adesina then reproduced Awodein’s statement on the matter as follows, “I am constrained to make in absolute good faith, in good conscience and in the interest of justice and fair play the following very short statement on account of the distorted news story currently being peddled as affecting the person of Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and my good and very noble self.

“The very simple and plain facts are as follows:
“I have known as a friend and for well over 35 years Mr Justice Niyi Ademola, a notorious fact known to the majority of lawyers who have practised especially in Lagos for over that same period more or less and also to so many other professionals of other disciplines and other prominent and not so prominent Nigerians.

“It is a fact that the sum of money mentioned was personally paid by me as a friend to Mr. Justice Ademola as a personal gift, as our custom well recognises and demands, on the occasion of his daughter’s High Society wedding solemnized at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on the 9th of May 2015, which I attended in person.

“I was fully convinced then, as I remain today, that I could do no less as a friend of longstanding to fairly reasonably support him on that memorable occasion of his daughter’s wedding.
“Anyone and everyone who knows me would readily and unquestionably testify that I am and have always been a man of impeccable integrity on and off the Courts and that such a record speaks always loudly for itself.

“I would conclude by stating categorically and without any equivocation that ANY link whatsoever with Mr. President, or any court case or cases, of my personal gift from my personal resources delivered to Justice Niyi Ademola by myself on that occasion or any suggestion whatsoever that it was anything but such a gift or that it ever came from Mr President or at his instance or that I was acting, under any circumstances, on his behalf is most malicious, utterly ridiculous and in very very poor and revolting taste and most undeserving of any further comments.”

 

Source: The Punch

Court Chief Accountant Discloses Justice Ademola’s Earnings

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The Chief Accountant of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Mr Awoyemi Adisa, has told an FCT High Court that the annual basic salary of Justice Adeniyi Ademola is about 6.3 million Naira, excluding allowances and other emoluments.

Mr Adisa, who is testifying as the 13th prosecution witness, told the court that Ademola earns a basic monthly salary of 528,638 Naira, alongside other allowances.

According to him, Justice Ademola gets 305,000 Naira for monthly welfare, a 5.4 million Naira furniture allowance paid every four years, and estacode for overseas medical check-up which he said amounted to 6,300 dollars for 2016 alone.

Four more witnesses were also called by the prosecution on Thursday as the trial continued.

Among the witnesses was the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court who tendered certified true copies of records of proceedings relevant to the matter.

There was also an investigation officer from the office of the Department of State Services, a ballistician attached to the firearms services laboratory of the police force Criminal Investigation Department and the Chief Accountant of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The 14th witness, Jeremiah Tanimu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police saddled with the ballistics of the two firearms found in the possession of Justice Ademola, told the court that the firearms were prohibited and lethal and could only be licensed by the President of Nigeria on discretion.

He referred to the Firearms Act of 1990 in his statement but was unable to provide the court with relevant documents to substantiate his statements.

Some documents tendered in court were the certified true copies of the salary and emolument of Justice Ademola from the date of his appointment to the bench up in October 2016.

The case has however been adjourned until Friday February 10, 2017.

Only President can approve licence for Justice Ademola’s guns – Witness

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Tanimu Jeremiah, an Assistant Police Superintendent, and a prosecution witness in the trial of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, told the FCT High Court on Thursday that only the President could approve for use the type of gun found in Justice Adeniyi Ademola’ s residence.

Mr. Ademola, a Federal High Court Judge, his wife, Olabowale, and Joe Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria, are standing trial before Justice Jude Okeke on allegations of fraud and possession of illegal arms.

The witness said the firearm was Avar magnum with capacity of eight rounds with cartridge of 12 inches each.

“The law is clear about issuance of licence for this type of firearm for private use. Only the President reserves the right to approve application for licence for such firearm.

“This was not so with this present situation,’’ he said.

Another witness, Awoyemi Adisa, an accountant with the Federal High Court tendered some documents on salaries and emolument of the first defendant (Ademola).

Mr. Adisa informed the court that the consolidated annual salary for a federal judge was about N6.3 million.

He also told the court that the judges were given N5.3 million furniture allowance in every four years, adding that the document covered 2009 and December 2016 financial year.

According to him, other welfare packages for judges include N305, 000 as medical allowance and a slot for an overseas trip once in a year.

Mr. Adisa said $6, 300 was paid for the defendant’s overseas trip and for his medical allowance in 2016.

He also said N180, 474 was remitted to him as leave allowance for the out-gone year.

Mr. Adisa further told the court that a judge was entitled to a car advance worth N7.2 million repayable within 5 years.

Giving evidence also, Christie Ende, the Deputy Registrar of the Federal High Court, tendered the certified true copies of some of the cases handled by Mr. Ademola.

They included the case of Federal Government against Sani Shaibu and Teidi Friday Ukpong against the Chief of Naval Staff.

Also the case between Jenkins Duvie Giane Gwede and the Delta State House of Assembly was admitted as evidence.

She said the third defendant (Mr. Agi) had appeared as counsel in the listed cases decided by Mr. Ademola.

Another witness, Stephen Opara, an official of the State Security Service (SSS) who interviewed and took Mrs Ademola’s statement, also tendered the video in court.

Mr. Ademola is one of the seven judges prosecuted after raids carried out by the SSS on October, 2016.

 

Source: NAN

DSS tenders bags of money, two pump-action rifles against Justice Ademola in court

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Umar Ahmed, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) tendered N54 million, two pump-action rifles and other items recovered from the residence of Adeniyi Ademola, a justice, at an FCT high court, on Wednesday.

Adeniyi Ademola, his wife Olabowale and Joe Agi (SAN), are standing trial on a 18-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to receive gratification in various ways contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other  Related Offences Act 2000.

Ademola was among the seven justices investigated on after the sting operations carried out on October 8 and October 9.

The items tendered by Ahmed, the exhibit keeper with DSS, who was the 11th witness, included 121, 279 US dollar, 400 euros,  110 Indian  Rupees and 80 pounds.

Others were: two pump action rifles and licence bearing the names of Adeniyi Ademola and Mohammed, another judge.

The items were admitted in evidence.

Earlier, Malik  Olatunde, an official of the Guaranty Trust  Bank (GTB), testified on how  Ademola transferred  N175 million in two tranches of N90 million and N85 million respectively, to a property company named  Don Parker  Properties Ltd.

He also narrated to the court the procedure of opening an account.

Two more charges were added, bringing the charges to 18 counts.

Jude Okeke, the judge, granted the prosecution leave to amend the charges as the defence counsel did not object to the application.

Okeke also upheld the existing bail terms and conditions as given on December 13 after pleas were taken.

Okeke admitted them to bail in the sum of N50 million each and on self recognition.

The court ordered that they deposit their international passports pending the conclusion of the trial

The case was adjourned till February 9 for continuation of hearing.

Prosecution Against Justice Ademola, Others Alleges Harassment Of Witnesses.

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The trial of Justice Ademola, his wife and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Joe Aginhas, has continued with the prosecution, alleging that his witnesses are being harassed; a situation he believes might affect the case.

The prosecution, Mr Segun Jegede, told the court that one of his witnesses allegedly escaped an assassination attempt the night before and that the said witness says someone had called him to broker a meeting with the defendants.

He therefore asked the court for witness protection because according to him, the witnesses are the property of the court.

Objecting to the statement, counsel to Justice Ademola, Mr Oyeachi Ikpeazu, said the tales being told were to continue to instigate media trial and prejudice the trial.

According to him, if any crime had been perceived to have occurred, the right thing would have been to approach the security agencies to launch an investigation and file charges if anyone was found culpable, rather than trying to court public sentiments.

He therefore urged the court not to listen to the prosecution.

Meanwhile, in a short ruling, Justice Jude Okeke said that the prosecution had complained that his witnesses were being threatened, but did not say who was threatening them.

Okeke further stated: “However, since he says the case is working the purview of the DPO of the Maitama Police station in Abuja, the court will not interfere with its investigation.”

He however added that for the sake of the trial, the Inspector General of Police is to provide security and protection for all the parties and witnesses in the case including the defense and prosecution to prevent any thing that would interfere with smooth hearing of the case.

Earlier, the court had ruled that even though the prosecution did not provide a summary of what its witness from a commercial bank will say, in regards to the financial statements of the defendants, in the interest of justice, the court will order the prosecution to attach the necessary documents required for the said witness to testify.

The defense counsels had urged the court to not allow the said witness testify in the case, since the prosecution did not comply with the law.

 

Source: Channels TV

DSS Tells Court How It Recovered Local, Foreign Currencies From Justice Ademola

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An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) has testified that the sum of 38 million Naira, two pump action rifles and some foreign currencies were recovered from the house of Justice Adeniyi Ademola during their search at the residence of the judge in October last year.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife and Mr Joe Agi, a senior lawyer are facing trial on allegations of bribery and illegal possession of firearms.

The witness, an operative of the DSS, Ike Onuoha, also said the operatives involved in the raid were told by Justice Ademola’s domestic workers that he was out of town, while the defendant was inside the house.

He said that the Justice’s security officials had told the operatives that his cook, identified as Ken, was in possession of the keys to the house.

“When we entered the premises, we called on Ken to call the judge with his mobile phone. Ken called the judge several times but he refused to pick. Much later, the judge sent a text message that he was not in town.

“After repeated calls, he switched off his phone. At that point, we had no option than to force open the main door. When we entered, we saw Justice Ademola in the master’s bedroom upstairs in his night wears. That was few minutes after 12 midnight,” the witness told the court.

He further told the court that they found 8.5 million Naira inside another room, after they forced their way in, having been refused access into the room by the defendant.

“The money was in 1,000 Naira denomination. We also found the sum of 6 million Naira, $121,179, €4,400 Euros, £80 and 1,010 Indian Rupees.

“In addition to that; we recovered six ATM cards, eight cheque books, eight deposit slips for various banks, two firearm licences – one for Honourable Justice A.R. Mohammed,” Mr Onuoha said listing recoveries.

He added that the rifles recovered at the residence had renewable licences and that they were no effort to contact Mr Mohammed, another judge at the FHC whose name was on one of the licences of the recovered guns.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of trial.

Trial of the justice had resumed on Monday, with the lead prosecution counsel, Mr Segun Jegede, telling the court that he had 14 witnesses, including officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank who will testify in the case.

The court proceedings commenced with the prosecution counsel addressing the court on the evidence with which he intends to prosecute the case.

After his statement of evidence, the prosecution invited his first witness, a sales consultant to Coscharis Motors in Lagos who testified to have received payment of eight million naira from Joe Agi Associate for a BMW car.

 

Source: Channels TV

How senior lawyer bought N8 million car for Justice Ademola – Sales Rep

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A witness in the ongoing trial of a Federal High Court judge, Adeniyi Ademola, has explained how a BMW luxury car was purchased for the defendant by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi.

The witness, Ifeoma Ofornagolu, the first of 14 witnesses to testify in the matter, said she delivered the vehicle at the residence of Mr. Ademola in Lagos after same was paid for by Mr. Agi, the third defendant in the matter.

Ms. Ofornagolu, a sales consultant with Coscharis motors, said she is responsible for facilitating such transactions between customers and her company.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola
Justice Adeniyi Ademola

According to the witness, her office confirmed the purchase by placing a call to the buyer of the vehicle. Once the necessary confirmation has been made, the name of the customer (owner of the purchased car) is noted for delivery.

“The receipt was issued in the name of Ademide Ademola; ( Mr. Ademola’s son). I accompanied the driver to deliver the vehicle to Ademide Ademola at number 16 Babatunde Ajose Avenue, Lekki, Lagos. The car was signed for by Mr. Ademide Ademola who received the vehicle,” said Ms. Ofornagolu.

Earlier, Ms. Ofornagolu said the confirmation of the purchase was made via a call between her office and Mr. Agi’s company, Joe Agi and associates.

She added that Mr. Agi also called them after the transfer of N8 million was done from his company’s bank as cost of the BMW, while an additional N400,000 was paid as VAT for the same vehicle.

“I was also called by Joe Agi. He called me to confirm if the transaction has been made,” she said.

 

Coscharis Motors
Coscharis Motors

The witness further said the receipt was sent to Ademide Ademola, via his email address, ademideademola@gmail.com.

After the witness had finished the first phase of her testimony, the defence counsel objected to the admissibility of the receipt on the ground that the said receipt was sent using an email through an Ipad that was not certified before the court.

The counsel to the first and second defendant, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, said although he did not object to the admissibility of the delivery note and the invoice containing the said transaction, he would contest the authenticity of the Ipad, through which the email was said to have been communicated to the defendant’s son.

The prosecution did not object to the submissions of the defence, subsequently, the documents sent using the email was withdrawn.

Mr. Ikpeazu also objected to the repetition in court of the statements made by the witness during the cause of the investigation.

joe-agi-SAN
Joe Agi

The witness, Ms. Ofornagolu, had been asked to recount the details mentioned in her statement, while she was being investigated.

She began to make the narration holding the said statement when she was interjected by the defence counsel, who argued that according to Section 84 of the Evidence Act, the witness should not allude to her own statement before the open court.

He said according to the law; the witness is only allowed to refer to his or her own statement, if such a statement proves inconsistent with what is testified in court by the same witness.

“A prior consistent statement is inadmissible by the same witness,” said Mr. Ikpeazu.

Counsel on both sides argued over the admissibility or otherwise of the statement.

Consequently, the trial judge, Jude Okeke, adjourned the matter till January 17.

 

Source: Premium Times

Court grants Justice Ademola accelerated hearing

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An FCT High Court yesterday granted a motion filed by a suspended justice of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola seeking for an abridgement of time in his trial.

 

Justice Ademola, through his counsel, Dr. Onyinyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) filed the motion on December 16th, 2016 seeking among other things for an accelerated hearing and abridgement of time in the trial.

 

The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, while delivering his ruling Monday noted that since the prosecution did not file an objection to the motion, the court will grant the prayers in the motion. He thereafter adjourned the matter to “January 11th for further arraignment in the event the prosecution files a fresh or amended charges and trial was fixed for January 16, 17&18.”

 

Speaking with court reporters after proceeding, prosecution counsel, Segun Jegede said the trial was supposed to commence on January 18 but the defendant wanted an accelerated hearing and an earlier date for the trial which has been granted by the court. He said the prosecution did not object to the motion because it was in line with Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

 

Jegede added that the Federal Government in the amended charge to be filed today will join one Mr. Joe Agi (SAN) to the defendants in the matter. He said the arraignment will go ahead tomorrow as agreed by all counsels.

 

The Federal Government had last year arraigned Justice Ademola and his wife Olabowale, the Head of Service of Lagos State over charges bordering on gratification and illegal possession of firearms and live ammunition. Both were granted bail on self recognisance to the tune of N100 million.

BREAKING: Justice Ademola, accused of corruption, gets bail

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday granted bail to a judge of the Federal High Court, with a bond of N50 million.

 

Adeniyi Ademola was granted bail by Justice Jude Okeke.

 

His wife, Olubowale, also got the same relief.

 

They were also requested to submit their international passports to the court registrar pending the determination of the case.

 

Mr. Ademola, alongside his wife, is facing a 11-count charge of alleged fraud and abuse of office.

UPDATE: Justice Ademola, wife, in the dock over N248m corruption charge

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The federal government on Tuesday arraigned Adeniyi Ademola, a serving judge, and his wife, Olubowale, before an Abuja high court.

Ademola and his wife, who is the Lagos state head of service, were brought before Jude Okeke on a 15-count charge of corruption to the tune of N248m.

Both accused persons were in the dock as proceedings started.

The Ademolas are also alleged to have received $520, 000 as gratification from some law firms between 2013 and 2016.

Ademola is one of the seven judges who were arrested on October 8 by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption.

Sylvester Ngwuta, a supreme court judge, who was also arrested, was arraigned before a federal high court in November.

The government has lined up at least four witnesses that will testify against the Ademolas?.

Justice Ademola on trial, tells photojournalists not to take his picture

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Adeniyi Ademola, a judge of the federal high court, Abuja, who is facing corruption charges, on Tuesday sparred with photojournalists who wanted to take pictures of him and his wife.

Ademola, who was being arraigned by the federal government before Jude Okeke, a judge of an Abuja high court,? asked the photojournalists to get out of the court.

?”Get out, get out. Don’t take my pictures. Get out,” he ordered.

His wife, Olabo?wale,  also joined him in heckling journalists.

“Why are you harassing us? Why are? you harassing us?” she yelled.

However, the photojournalists did not give up as they struggled to get a shot of him.

Ademola and his wife then hide their faces from the cameras after the journalists refused to cave in.

His lawyers afterwards stampeded them out of the court.

The court was not sitting at the time.

The defendants are  facing 15-counts of corruption to the tune of N248m.

FG presses fresh charges against Justice Ademola

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The Federal Government has preferred fresh charges against Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja and his wife, Olabowale, who is the Head of Service of Lagos State, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja.

The prosecution amended the charges it filed on December 1, 2016 bringing the original 14 counts down to 11.

While some of the old counts have been dropped, fresh ones including receiving a car worth N8.5m as gratification from a senior lawyer, Mr. Joe Agi, and being in possession of two rifles without valid licences have been preferred against the judge.

The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, on Monday, fixed December 13, 2016 for the arraignment of the defendants.

Like the old set of charges, Justice Ademola and his wife were accused in the fresh counts of conspiracy and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates between March 11 and March 26, 2015.

The prosecution also accused the judge of “dealing with property subject matter of an offence” by transferring N85m and N90m, totalling N175m to Franco Dan Parker on February 24, 2014.

Both offences were said to be contrary to section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same law.

The judge was also accused of attempting to receive gratification in the sum of N25m from one Sani Shaibu Teidi on February 21, 2014.

He was also said to have, on January 5, 2015, in his capacity as a public servant, “corruptly received from Joe Odey Agi, a BMW Saloon 320i valued at N8,500,000, through your son, Ademide Ademola, as gratification in the exercise of your official functions as the judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria”.

The offences relating to gratification were said to be contrary to section 8(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.

The judge was also said to have, on October 7, 2016, had in his possession “one Pump Action Rifle with serial number AVAR MAGNUM 6084 without a valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004”.

He was said to have, on the same date of October 7, 2016, had in his possession another Pump Action Rifle with serial number AVAR MAGNUM 6284 without a valid licence.

In the last count, he was accused of having in his possession on the same date of October 7, 2014, “35 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004”.

The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday but they were absent because they had not been served with the charges.

Justice Okeke adjourned the matter till December 13, 2016, after the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Jeph Njikonye, volunteered to accept service on behalf of his clients.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Segun Jegede, had told the court that bailiffs attempted to serve the couple with the charges but they were said to have travelled to Lagos.

He said he was going to ask the court to give an order for service on the defendants through substituted means but that was no longer necessary as the defence counsel had approached him before the proceedings commenced and volunteered to accept service on behalf of the defendants.

Jegede urged the court to grant leave to serve the defendants through their lawyer on the strength of section 382(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Although Njikonye expressed readiness to accept service on behalf of his clients, he said was not aware of attempts to serve the couple personally and, as such, section 382(5) of the ACJA was not applicable in the matter.

The defence lawyer, however, submitted that the court under its inherent powers could grant the leave for service.

Justice Okeke, in his ruling, said record showed that a court bailiff attempted to serve the defendants in Abuja, on December 2, but were said to have travelled to Lagos.

He proceeded to grant leave enabling the defendants to be served through their lawyer as provided for under section 382(5) of ACJA.

Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Umar, announced that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had authorised Jegede to lead the prosecution team.

The DPPF said, “The Attorney General of the Federation, in exercise of his power under section 174 of the constitution and section 104(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, has authorised Mr. Segun Jegede to lead the prosecution of this case.”

Jegede is a former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

According to online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, Jegede worked at the UNICTR for over a decade.

His work at the UNICTR “mainly revolved around the investigation and prosecution of some of the known masterminds of the egregious crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide”.

The Rwandan genocide, which lasted about 100 days in 1994, was a mass slaughter of the Tutsi ethnic minority group in Rwanda by the Hutu ethnic majority group.

Jegede was also said to have had a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice as a state counsel before going into private legal practice and subsequently establishing his own law firm in 1988.

Upon taking over the case from the DPPF on Monday, Jegede announced that he was going to withdraw the old charges filed on November 14, 2016, and replace them with the set filed on December 1, 2016.

Justice Okeke granted the prayer and struck out the old charges filed on December 1.

Joe Agi Paid Justice Ademola 160 Million Naira Bribe – FG

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The Federal Government has fingered Barrister Joe Agi (SAN) as one of the beneficiaries of the alleged Justice Adeniyi Ademola cash-for-justice case claiming he bribed the embattled Justice to the tune of at least 160 million Naira.

This information was contained in a court document with 15 charges prepared by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation against Justice Ademola and his wife Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, who is the current Head of Service in Lagos State named as an accomplice.

The defendants according to the charges are accused of receiving bribes from Messrs Joe Odey Agi and associates between 2013 to 2016 up to the tune of 160 million Naira in Charges number 1,2,3,4 and 12.

1) N30 Million from Messrs Joe Odey Agi Associates.
2) N40 million from Messrs Joe Odey Agi Associates.
3) N30 Million from Messrs Joe Agi Associates.
4) N30 Million  from Messrs Joe Agi Associates.
12) N30 Million from Messrs Joe Odey Agi Associates.

The charges prepared by Hajara Yusuf on behalf of the Attorney General were filed at the high Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

However, efforts to reach Barrister Agi fro comments proved futile as his phone was switched off as at press time.

Justice Ademola, a federal high court judge was arrested on October 8, 2016 alongside several other members of the bench in an operation by Nigeria’s secret police in what it says is a move to cleanse the judiciary.

Agi is currently in court with Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade in a pre election case of perjury and alleged falsification of age which the Supreme Court has set aside December 9, 2016 for a ruling on the matter

FG charges Justice Ademola, wife with gratification offences.

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The Federal Government on Monday filed gratification charges against Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, and his wife, Olabowale, who is the Head of Service of Lagos State.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation filed 15 counts in the suit with number, FCT/CR/21/2016, against the couple before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.

The prosecution accused Ademola and his wife of “corruptly” receiving a total sum of N248,101,300 and $520,000 as gratifications from law firms and others between 2013 an 2016.

Justice Ademola was among the judges, including two Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices Sylvester and Inyang Okoro, arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8 on allegations of corruption.

The Federal Government had already on November 8, 2016 charged Justice Ngwuta before the Federal High Court, Abuja on charges of money laundering and passport infraction relating to age falsification and obtaining of multiplicity of passports.

Justice Okoro has however not been charged.

In the charges filed on Monday, Justice Ademola and his wife were accused in counts one and two, of “criminal conspiracy to receive and/or obtain gratification contrary to sections 8(1) and 26(1) (c) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act, 2011 land punishable under Sections 8(1) (iii) of the same law”.

The wife was accused in counts four to seven of “receiving gratification for other person, contrary to Section 8 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission Act 2011 and punishable under the same law.”

In counts eight to 15, Justice Ademola was accused of receiving a total of N248,101,300 and $520,000 as gratifications other than his “lawful remuneration, a motive or reward for doing an official act and/or in the exercise of your official functions as judge of the Federal High Court.”

The offences were said to be contrary to section 115 of Penal Code Law (Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963) and punishable under section 115(iii) of the same law.

The charges indicated that various sums of money were paid into the Guaranty Trust Bank account of Justice Ademola’s wife by law firms and others as gratifications for onward payment to the judge.

The judge and his wife were accused of conspiracy to receive/obtain N30m gratification from Joe Odey Agi Associates between March 11 and 26, 2015.

They were also accused of conspiracy to receive N40m gratification from Joe Agi Associates between February 20 and 21, 2014.

Olabowale, allegedly, on March 11, 2015 received from Joe Agi Associates N10m on behalf of her husband.

On March 16, 2015, she allegedly received another N10m from Joe Agi Associates on behalf of her husband.

She also, on March 26, 2015, allegedly received the sum of N10m from Joe Odey Agi Associates.

On February 20, 2014, the prosecution alleged that she received N40m from a source not named on behalf of her husband.

In one of the counts, the judge himself was accused of receiving N30m from Joe Agi Odey Associates through the GTB account of his spouse between March 11 and 26, 2015.

The judge was also accused in counts eight to 15 of receiving gratifications from various sources including Joe Odey Agi Associates.

He allegedly received $520,000 from Johnson & Johnson Solicitors on May 6, 2013.

The judge was also accused of receiving the sum of N6m from Oshodi, Oshodi & Co. between February 25, 2015 and. April 16, 2015

The prosecution also accused him of receiving N55,650,000 from G.T.J Ademola & Co between January 5 and June 23, 2016.

He was also accused of receiving N40m from Vertice Solutions Ltd. on February 20, 2014.

The prosecution also accused him of receiving N47.6m from Acardian Energy Services Limited on February 20, 2014.

He will also be facing a count in which he was accused of receiving N34.08m from Omotayo Babafemi Aliyu between February 20 and 21, 2014.

He was also accused of receiving N4.7713m from Lawan Sulaiman between February 21 and November 7, 2014.

In the last count, he was accused of N30m from Joe Odey Agi Associates between February 20 and 21, 2014.

“Justice Ademola Arrested For Granting Kanu Bail” – IPOB

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has allegedly linked Justice Ademola’s arrest with the unconditional bail he had earlier granted Nnamdi Kanu which the Federal Government rejected.

A statement from IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group noted that Kanu has spent one year in detention illegally while the court of competent jurisdiction granted him unconditional release on 16th and 17th December 2015 by magistrate and federal high court Abuja but since then federal government, APC and the DSS were still holding him and others in prison custody.

He urged Biafrans to be resolute and determine towards the restoration of the God’s own project which is Biafra republic, saying that the project was ordained by God Almighty.

Powerful stated that Biafra will be a country where people of Africa will benefit, ‘the Africa will be technologically, economically, politically and spiritually free through the new republic’.

“However, we are aware of the systematic way of delaying the members of IPOB who were detained illegally in all the prisons and security cells across the country”.

In a related development, Kanu as sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) for contempt of court over failure of the federal government to release him from detention.

On December 17, 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, a judge of the Federal High Court ordered Kanu’s unconditional release of Kanu.

In a statement at the weekend, Ifeanyi Ejiojor, counsel to Kanu, linked the continued detention of the IPOB leader to President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment at the presidential media chat on December 30, 2015, where he said no court would grant him bail.

“The order made on December 17, 2016 by Justice A.F.A. Ademola, directing the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu was served on the Department of State Services (DSS) that same day the order was made,” he said.

“Still, the DSS failed, refused and/or neglected to obey the order directing the unconditional release of Kanu, apparently due to reasons best known to them, which has no justification under any law.

IPOB said none of the affected institutions of the government affected by the order or the Federal Government has lodged an appeal against the order directing the unconditional release of Kanu.

Ademola was one of the judges arrested by the DSS on Saturday on the allegation of corruption.

“Nevertheless, it comes as a surprise on Friday 7th October 2016 at exactly 11:45am we received information that the Biafra land national coordinator of the indigenous people of Biafra Mr.Chidiebere Onwudiwe who have been arrested by DSS was called up in the federal high court Abuja court 7 of Justice Ademola without the prosecutors been in court to defend the matter against Chidiebere Onwudiwe” he stated.

“The DSS being the prosecutor of the matter were nowhere to be found in the court on Friday 7th October, they are running because Chidiebere Onwudiwe committed no crime against humanity or the federal government of Nigeria” Powerful stated.

“Comrade Chidiebere Onwudiwe was arrested in the odd hour of midnight in Igweocha (PH) Rivers state where he was sleeping on Friday 22nd June 2016 still detained in DSS cell incommunicado and have not been taking to any court since 128 days”.

“The lawyer incharge of the matter Bar, Ifeanyi Ejiofor who filled motion for his bail in the federal high court 7 Abuja. The chief judge Ademola who adjourned the matter to be on Tuesday 11th October for hearing because the DSS did not produce mazi Chidiebere Onwudiwe the national coordinator of the indigenous people of Biafra IPOB Biafraland in court” said powerful.

Meanwhile, a political pressure group, Concerned Abians for Good Governance and Justice (CAGGJ) has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) over last weekend’s arrest of some senior Judges across the country and their subsequent arraignment yesterday for alleged corrupt practices.

This is even as the group flayed what it described as the ignoble role played by Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the failed attempt to arrest a Federal High Court Judge in Port Harcourt by operatives of the DSS.

In a statement by its chairman, Egwu D. Uwa, CAGGJ said Nigerians have for years be yearning for a day like this, when men no matter how highly placed would be made to account for what they have done with what were entrusted in their care.

Uwa said as far as his group was concerned, what the DSS operatives did was what Nigerians had been yearning for over the years, stressing that it was only those who benefitted from what have been happening in the judiciary over the years that would condemn the action.

CAGGJ regretted that most of the politics-related judgments delivered after the 2015 general elections were cash induced, saying no nation would grow politically if this anomaly was not checked.

“It was glaringly clear that most of the politics-related judgments delivered since after the2015 general elections were cash and carry judgments and no good government that what its salt will sit idly and watch things like this go on and that is why we are commending the DSS for this bold step”.

Uwa said it was unfortunate that those who are condemning the modus-operandi the DSS operatives adopted in arresting the Judges, have closed their eyes to the huge cash recovered for the houses of the arrested judges.

Wondering where the Judges got such huge amount of money in both local and foreign currencies, Uwa opined that if the operatives of the DSS had not adopted such method, the deliveries could not have been made.

CAGGJ condemned Gov Wike’s action in allegedly using some party loyalists to stop the arrest of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, saying the action was capable of sending wrong signals to the public.

CAGGJ said if Wike had no special interest in the Judge, he wouldn’t have left the Government House at about 1.30am to ensure that the said Judge was not arrested.

“We don’t think if Gov Wike had no interest in the particular Judge, he would have left Government House by the time he did to ensure that the Judge was not arrested. Again his efforts in trying to defend the Judge over the amount alleged to be in his house, left much to be desired”, Uwa said.