Buhari’s lawyer gave N.5m ‘gift’ to Justice Ademola –witness

• Alleged sum paid by Awodehin (SAN) during Buhari’s certificate saga

Mr. Babatunde Adepoju, the 16th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife Olabowale and Joe Agi (SAN) on Tuesday, told the court that N500, 000.00 gift President Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyer gave Justice Ademola was not a bribe.

The defendants are facing trial on charges over allegation of receipt of gratification and illegal possession of firearms before Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Adepoju, an operative of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), stated while under cross examination that in the course of his investigation, he also discovered payment of N500,000 made by one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyers in support of Justice Ademola’s family during the wedding ceremony of their daughter.

The witness noted that although the money, which was paid by Kola Awodehin (SAN) was made at a time Buhari’s certificate saga was pending before Justice Ademola’s court, such a payment could however not be taken for a bribe.

Joe Agi’s lawyer, Jeph Ejinkoye, had asked the witness whether by giving a wedding gift to Ademola, was President Buhari bribing Justice Ademola in order to win the certificate suit pending before him? The witness however answered in the negative.

He said in his opinion, it is a mere speculation to state that because the third defendant was handling some cases before the first defendant, the monetary gift of N30 million sent through him by Ken Hubert and Basey Bassey should be taken for a bribe.

On the allegation that Senator Ahmed Tinubu had influenced the appointment of Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, the witness stated that his position was based on an earlier allegation made against her. But when asked if he investigated the allegation, the witness said he did not.

He further stated that he was aware that Mrs. Ademola was the most senior permanent secretary in Lagos state civil service at the time she was elevated to the post of Head of Service, Lagos State.

The witness was also asked if anybody had laid claim to the money allegedly found at the residence of Justice Ademola, or if anybody has come up to say that he gave such money to Justice Ademola as bribe.

He said ‘No’. On whether the allegation bordering on gratification and illegal possession of firearms were meant to hound the 1st defendant over the release of Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu on bail, the witness said he was aware that Federal Government did not only agree in the open court that the offenses with which Dasuki was charged with are bailable, but did not oppose the bail applications made on behalf of the two during their trial before Justice Ademola.

Speaking specifically on Kanu, the witness told the court that he was aware the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) was earlier granted bail by a magistrate court. On the petition by one Jenkins Gwede against the first defendant, he said he knew that the petitioner withdrew the petition on the ground that the allegations were false.Gwede was said to have petitioned National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Ademola on April 2, 2016 but withdrew same on April 4, two days after.

The defense lawyer later tendered a true certified copy of letter by Jenkins withdrawing his petition. It was admitted in evidence and marked exhibit HHH.

On the alleged N30 million bribe through the wife of Justice Ademola, the witness also recanted on his earlier position that the sum would have been paid to influence the first defendant in the case involving Friday Ukpong vs Chief of Naval Staff.

He told the court that there would not have been any correlation between the lodgments and the case as their dates were far separated from each other. The matter was adjourned to March 15.