The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olabowale, the Head of Service(HOS) of Lagos state, before Justice Jude Okeke of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja.
The duo were arraigned on 11- count charge including conspiracy to receive gratification and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates between March 11 and March 26 last year. Only the first four charges bordering on gratification involved the judge and his wife, the rmaining seven were preferred against the judge alone.
The couple were arraigned on 11 counts including conspiracy to receive gratification and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates, between 11th and 26th of march 2015.
In one of the other counts, the judge was accused of attempting to receive gratification in the sum of N25m from one Sani Shaibu Teidi on February 21, 2014.
Justice Ademola was also said to have on January 5, 2015 in his capacity as a public servant “corruptly received from Joe Odey Agi a BMW Saloon 320i valued at N8,500,000 through your son, Ademide Ademola, as gratification in the exercise of your of your official functions as the judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria”.
The offences relating to gratification are said to be contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.
Justice Ademola and his wife pleaded not guilty to the charges.