– The Department of State Security has amended the charges against Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife
– The DSS also arraigned a senior advocate of Nigeria Joe Agi for giving the judge N30 million as gratification
– The SAN was also arraigned for giving the judge an N8.5 million BMW vehicle
The DSS also arraigned a Senior advocate of Nigeria for giving the judge N30 million
The federal government had earlier arraigned Justice Ademola and Olubowale, a former Lagos state head of service on an 11-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.
The judge and his wife were accused of conspiring to collect gratification from a company belonging to a senior advocate of Nigeria Joe Agi.
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The gratification – N30 million – was said to have been collected by the duo in March 2015.
An offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (a) of the corrupt practices and other related offences act and punishable under section 8(ii) of the same Act.
But in a detailed explanation, the prosecution counsel Segun Jegede told journalists in court that the third defendant – Agi – was not initially arraigned alongside Ademola and his wife.
Jegede said the prosecution had not planned to join the third defendant in order to avoid delay in trial.
He said the amended charge now 16, instead of 11-counts, the senior advocate of Nigeria is said to have paid N30 million in three trenches to the defendants in March 2015.
READ ALSO: Corruption war: 11 charges against wife of Federal High Court
The Ademolas are also accused of receiving a BMW vehicle worth N8.5 million from Agi to influence the decision of the court on certain matters.
While Agi pleaded not guilty to the charges, counsel to the Ademolas prayed the court to permit his clients enjoy an already existing bail granted to them by the court.
In the same manner, counsel to the SAN while requesting for bail said he has served a bail application on the complainant.
He prayed the court to grant bail to Agi since the matter was slated for continuation of trial on Monday, January 16.
But in his objection, Jegede asked the court to impose stringent bail conditions that will prevent the defendant from abstaining from trial.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Justice Ademola’s wife sacked
Having heard the submissions and objections by both parties, the judge over the matter, Jude Okye said the prosecution did not oppose to the application for bail.
He ruled that Ademola and his wife continue enjoying the bail earlier granted them.
He however added that the SAN, Joe Agi pay N50 million as condition for his bail.
Inclusively, Agi is expected to deposit his travel passport with the court registrar seven days from today, January 11.
360naze
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