Arraignment Of Justice Ademola, Wife, Stalled

SAN FRANCISCO, December 05, (THEWILL) – The planned arraignment of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja and his wife, Olabowale, before an Abuja high court, scheduled for Monday , was stalled.

Ademola and his wife, who is the Lagos state head of service, were to be arraigned before Justice Jude Okeke on a 15-count charge of corruption to the tune of N248m, but they did not show up because they had not been served with a summons.

Lead prosecution lawyer, Segun Jegede revealed that the court's bailiff was unable to serve the defendants with the 11-count charge because he was in Lagos.

He, however, revealed that JC Ajinkeonye, counsel to the defendants, had indicated that he would receive the summons on behalf of his client which was confirmed by Ajinkeonye who assured the court that his client would be present for arraignment on the next adjourned date.

After listening to their submissions, Justice Okeke granted the request of the prosecuting counsel that Ademola be served through his lawyer and consequently adjourned to December 13 for arraignment.

Ademola is one of the seven judges arrested on October 8 in a raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption.

Story by Oputah David