• Files another case at CCT

Not satisfied by last Wednesday’s exoneration of Justice Adeniyi Ademola and two others of all the 18-count charges of fraud and money laundering, the Federal Government, has gone upstairs in search of justice.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is reporting that the government has appealed the judgement of Justice Jude Okeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court, Abuja, which exculpated Ademola, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe Agi, of blame in the allegation which also included offering and receiving bribe.

NAN, quoting sources at the presidency said the government not only filed an appeal, but has also approached the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where they filed a case 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.