FG objects to Ademola’s resumption, says there is appeal against his acquittal

The federal government on Thursday officially complained to the National Judicial Council (NJC) over its directive that Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja and five others should resume sitting despite the fact that there is a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal against Ademola’s acquittal from corruption charges preferred by EFCC at the lower court manned by Justice Jude Okeke, and the others that are still under investigations by law enforcement agencies.

In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla said the decision of NJC to recall Justice Ademola and five others who it suspended because they were standing trials or under investigation by law enforcement agencies is highly “controversial” and unacceptable by government.

His words: “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 Attorney 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.

He continued: “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.”