The Federal Government yesterday re-arraigned suspended justice of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olabowale on amended charges bordering on gratification and illegal possession of arms.
Also arraigned alongside the two is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Joe Odey Agi. He was accused of bribing Justice Ademola to the tune of N38m through Mrs Ademola and son Ademide.
Prosecution counsel, Segun Jegede told the court that the prosecution has amended the charge and that the application for the amendment was brought under section 216 & 256 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Without objection from the defence, Justice Jude Okeke granted the application for the substitution of the earlier 11-count charge with the amended 16-count charge.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to them. Thereafter, counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, Chief Solomon Akuna (SAN) urged the court to allow the Ademolas to continue to enjoy the bail conditions earlier granted to them by the court on December 13th, 2016 when they were first arraigned before the court. The prosecution did not object to this oral application.
Agi’s counsel, Barrister Jeph Njikonye urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognizance.
Justice Okeke ruled that “bail is granted in self-recognizance with the sum of N50 million and the defendant to deposit his international passport and other travel documents to the registry of the court within seven days.”
In the list of witness filed before the court, the FG plans to call 14 witnesses to prove its case against the defendants when the trial commences on Monday, 16th January. Thirteen exhibits have also been filed to further prove that the defendants are guilty as charged.
Send your press release/articles to:
info@dnllegalandstyle.com ,Follow us on Twitter at @dnlpartners and Facebook at Facebook.com/Dnl-partners