SAN To Be Charged To Court For Multi-Million Fraud

The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has indicated its intention to amend the charges it instituted against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, and his wife, Olubowale.

The lead prosecution counsel, Segun Jegede told the trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke of a High Court in Abuja, that he intended to join a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi, as a defendant.

The Federal Government had, on December 13, 2016, arraigned Justice Ademola and his wife on 11 counts, including being in possession of firearms without a valid licence, conspiracy to receive gratification and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates, between March 11 and March 26, 2015.

The judge, on the date of arraignment, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50m each, totalling N100m for the two of them.

The judge then adjourned till January 18 for the commencement of trial.

But before the next adjourned date, Justice Ademola filed an application seeking an accelerated hearing of the trial.

During the Monday’s proceedings, the lead prosecution counsel, urged the court to give him time to file amended charges against the accused persons, including Agi.

Justice Okeke adjourned the matter till Wednesday to enable the prosecution to file the amended charges and arraign the three accused persons; the husband and wife, and the SAN.

In the current charges preferred against Justice Ademola and his wife, the accused persons were accused 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 are 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 N8.5m through your son, Ademide Ademola, as gratification in the exercise of your official functions as the judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria”.