A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday cleared Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, his wife Olubowale, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi of the 18 counts charges of corruption and gratification preferred against them.
The Office of the Attorney-General Federation had filed the charges against the defendants following a raid by operatives of State Security Services on the judge’s house on October 7, 2016.
While ruling on the suit, Justice Jude Okeke discharged the three defendants as he upheld the no-case submissions filed by the defendants.
The Judge noted that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against the defendants in any of the 18 counts charges in spite of the fact that it called 19 witnesses and tendered exhibits A to ZZZ.
The Judge therefore said there is no need to ask the defendants to defend themselves against the charges.
He further held that it would amount to asking the defendants to prove their innocence contrary to the provision of the Constitution which required the prosecution to prove their guilt if they were asked to open their defence.
For instance, the Judge noted that the prosecution was unable to demonstrate that the sum of N30m paid by Agi into Olubowale’s bank account in three tranches of N10m each between March 11 and 26, 2015, was gratification meant to influence Justice Ademola in his official functions.
Details later