A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama,
Abuja, on Wednesday dismissed all the 18 counts, including gratification
charges preferred against Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High
Court,
his wife Olubowale, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi.
Justice Jude Okeke discharged the three defendants in a
ruling upholding the respective no-case submissions filed by the defendants.
The charges were filed last year by the Office of the
Attorney-General Federation following the raid by Department of State Service’s
operatives on the judge’s house on October 7, 2016.
Justice Okeke ruled on Wednesday that the prosecution was
unable to make out a prima facie case with respect to any of the 18 counts on
concluding its case with 19 witnesses and exhibits A to ZZZ to warrant calling
on the defendants to enter their defence.
Justice Okeke in his final comments noted that the case of
the prosecution was built on strong suspicion and speculation fuelled by the
feeling of fight against corruption which not reasonable court could base any
conviction on.
By Ade Adesomoju
