NJC Aware Justice Ademola Has Pending Appeal Case, Yet Reinstated Him – FG

The Federal Government has declared that it has already appealed the ruling of Justice Jude Okeke of the Federal High Court discharging the controversially reinstated Justice Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola by the National Judiciary Commission, NJC.

The appeal, the National Judicial Commission was duly noticed before it yet, went ahead to reinstate the embattled Justice.

The FG in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla said it was wrong that the NJC was not aware of the appeal.

However, the FG declared that Justice Adeniyi Ademola is still standing trial and the NJC was duly informed.

The State read;

“Last Saturday the National Judicial Council (NJC) controversially decided to rescind its previous decision to suspend some Judges that were standing trials and or under investigation by law enforcement agencies.”

“I want to debunk the false impression created in some sections of the media that the NJC was not aware or that there was no appeal filed by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja dated the 5th April, 2017 in Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others which discharged and acquitted the defendants.Nothing can be further from the truth.”

“Indeed, the Office of the Honourable General of the Federation filed notices of appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja over his ruling discharging and acquitting the three defendants on the 7th April, 2017.”

“Accordingly, the Court of Appeal pursuant to Order 8 Rule 2 (a) of the Court of Appeal Rules has invited Counsel to the Appellant (the Federal Republic of Nigeria) and the Respondents to attend Court on the 6th June 2017 to reconcile documents for record of appeal.”

“I, therefore, state without fear of contradiction that the appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja discharging and acquitting the defendants Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others is pending before the Court of Appeal.”

Recalls the despite insistence by the Presidency that none of the Judges recently recalled by the National Judicial Council, NJC, should return to the bench, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on Wednesday, resumed sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Ademola was among eight superiors court Judges that were arrested after a “sting operation” the Department of State Service, DSS, conducted in October, 2016.

He was later prosecuted by the Federal Government on an 18-count corruption charge alongside his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi.

FG alleged that Ademola who is a grandson to a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, had in the discharge of his official duties, received bribe from Agi to the tune of N38.5million and perverted the course of Justice.

However, the the trial court, in a Judgement that was delivered by Justice Jude Okeke on February 5, discharged the defendants on the premise that FG failed to prove its allegations against them.

Having been cleared by the trial court, the NJC which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the end of its meeting on June 1, directed Justice Ademola and five other Judges to return to their duty posts.