FG loses graft suit against Justice Ademola, wife, SAN

An Abuja High Court on Wednesday dis­missed an 18-count bribery and corruption charge slammed on Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife, Olubowale and his family lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN) over alleged receipt of N30 mil­lion gratification.

The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, while ruling on the defendants’ no-case-submission on Wednesday, discharged Ademola, his wife and Agi on the account that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

It would be recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice filed the charges against the trio last year after operatives of the De­partment of State Service raided the official resi­dence of Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In his ruling, the judge held that the testimonies of the 19 witnesses that were called by the prosecution could not link the defen­dants to the commission of the crimes for which they earlier arraigned.

Justice Okeke declared that the prosecution’s suit was predicated on suspicion and speculation.

Furthermore, Justice Okeke said that it would amount to asking the defen­dants to prove their inno­cence contrary to the pro­visions of the Constitution which requires the prosecu­tion to prove their guilt.