Judge, wife arraigned for allegedly receiving N30m gratification

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and his wife, Olabowale, Head of Service Lagos State, on Tuesday, were arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, over conspiracy to receive gratification and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates, between March 11 and March 26, 2015.
The couple pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them before the trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke.

According to the charge, only the first four counts which border on the alleged N30m gratification involve the wife of the judges. The rest of the seven counts were specifically preferred against the judge alone.

In one of the other counts, the judge was  accused of attempting to receive gratification in the sum of N25m from one Sani Shaibu Teidi on February 21, 2014.

Justice Ademola 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 N8,500,000 through your son, Ademide Ademola, as gratification in the exercise of your  of your official functions as the judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria”.

The offences relating to gratification are said to be contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.

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 said to have on October 7, 2016 had in his possession “one Pump Action Rifle with serial number AVAR MAGNUM 6084 without a valid licence an thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004.”

He was said to have on the same date of October 7, 2016 had in his possession another Pump Action Rifle with serial number AVAR MAGNUM 6284 without a valid licence.

In the last count, he was accused of having in his possession on the same date of October 7, 2014,  “35 rounds of live ammunition (cartridge) without a valid licence an thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004.”