The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has accused
embattled Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja of
accepting an N8million car as gratification from a lawyer, Joe Odey Agi.
The Nation reports that Justice Ademola allegedly accepted “a BMW
saloon 320i, valued at N8m” through his son, Ademide Ademola from Agi
who had a case before his court.
This allegation is among the new charges filed
against Justice Ademola and his wife, Olabowale by the office of the
AGF. Mrs Ademola is alleged to have accepted a N30m cash gift on behalf
of her husband from a law firm known as Messrs Joe Agi and Associates.
In the 11-count charge filed on December 1, the couple are accused, in
count one, of conspiring, between March 11 and 24, 2015, to receive
gratification from Messrs Joe Agi and Associates through their accounts
206/174191/2/0 and 201/110160/1/0 domiciled at GTBank Plc, and committed
an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and
other related offences Act 2000.
Mrs. Ademola is accused in counts two, three and four of receiving N10m
gratification thrice from Messrs Joe Agi and Associates through her
GTBank account on behalf of her husband between March 11 and 24, 2015,
an offence contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of Corrupt Practices and other
related offences Act 2000.
Justice Ademola is accused in counts five and six of “dealing with
property subject matter of an offence” by transferring N85m and N90m on
February 24, 2014, through his account 286/174191/2/0 in GTBank to
Franco Dan Parker, “which forms the proceeds of an unlawful act and
thereby committed an offence contrary to Corrupt Practices and other
related offences Act 2000.
The judge is accused in count seven of attempting, on February 21st
2014, to obtain gratification of N25m from Sani Shaibu Teidi “as a
motive for showing favour in the exercise of your official functions,
contrary to Section 118(b) of the Penal Code Act”.
In count eight, Justice Ademola is accused of receiving gratification of
“a BMW saloon 320i, valued at N8m from Joe Odey Agi, through your son,
Ademide Ademola, an act contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt
Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.
In count nine, 10 and 11, he is accused of illegally possessing firearms
and ammunition (one Avar Magnum 608, Avar Magnum 6284) and 35 rounds of
live ammunition (catridges) without valid licences an offence contrary
to Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act 2004.
The planned arraignment of the couple before a High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama was stalled yesterday, owing to the
inability of the prosecution to effect service of the charge on the
defendants.
When the case was called, the Director of Public Prosecution of the
Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Umar, told the court that in exercising his
powers under Section 174 of the Constitution, and Section 104 of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the AGF has instructed
that a private lawyer, Segun Jegede lead the prosecution of the case.
When he took over, Jegede, a former prosecutor at the International
Criminal Court (ICC), told the court that the court’s bailiff was
unable to serve the defendants the charge.
Relying on the provision of Section 382(5) of the ACJA, Jegede sought
the court’s permission to serve copies of the charge on the defendants’
lawyer, for onward transfer to them.
He equally applied to withdraw an earlier charge filed by the
prosecution on November 14, 2016. Defence lawyer Jeph Njikonye, did not
object to the prosecution’s withdrawal of the earlier charge. He also
expressed his readiness to accept copies of the new charge for his
clients.
Justice Jude Okeke struck out the charge withdrawn by the prosecution
and directed Njikonye to accept copies of the fresh charge for his
clients.
Justice Okeke adjourned till Tuesday for arraignment.
