TheCable

Jude Okeke, justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, Abuja has acquitted Adeniyi Ademola, a suspended federal high court judge, of corruption charges.

The judge declared Ademola not guilty on an 18-count charge of corruption and illegal possession of firearm brought against him by the federal government.

Okeke in his ruling on the no-case submission of the defendants, held that the prosecution did not adduce enough evidence to warrant the defendants to enter defence.

He said the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against the defendants, and held that no iota of evidence to prove that the defendants were guilty of the charges levelled against them.

Okeke told the prosecution to carry out proper investigations before suspects are arraigned.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had raided the Abuja residence of Ademola in October, and the attorney-general of the federation filed a suit against him and Olubowale, his wife, few weeks later.

The government had alleged that Ademola abused his position as a judge, and that he received monetary favours from lawyers who had cases at his court.

During his trial in February, a witness claimed that Kola Awodein, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyers, gave the judge N500,000 during the “missing certificate suit” of the president.

Although, Buhari’s lawyer admitted to giving Ademola the money, he said it was a gift for his daughter’s wedding.

On Wednesday, the court acquitted him of all the charges.

The government has also filed charges of false asset declaration and abuse of office against Ademola at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).