SAN FRANCISCO, December 13, (THEWILL) – A Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has granted bail on self-recognisance to a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olabowale, who is Lagos State’s Head of Service.
The presiding judge, Justice Jude Okeke granted bail to the duo on Tuesday, after they were dragged before the court by the Federal Government.
The couple were arraigned on an 11-count charge including being in possession of firearms without valid license, conspiracy to receive gratification and receiving gratification of N30m from Joe Agi and Associates, between March 11 and March 26, 2015.
Shortly after the arraignment of the defendants, counsel to Justice Ademola, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, and another lawyer representing the wife of the judge, told court that they had filed their applications for bail.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Segun Jegede, in his reaction, said he would not oppose the bail applications but prayed the court to impose terms and conditions that would make the defendants attend their trial.
“In principle, we are not objecting to the applications given the circumstances of this case, the standing of the defendants and the rapidly approaching Christmas.
“However in doing that, I will apply that the court imposes condition that will make the defendants to attend trial.
“They must be made to give undertaking that they will attend trial. They must not interfere with witnesses and they must not destroy evidence,” he said.
Justice Okeke granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50m each, but they were not required to produce sureties to guarantee release since the bail was granted in self-recognisance.
In granting the bail on Tuesday, he said the choice of the prosecution not to oppose the bail applications implied that it admitted all the averments deposed to by the defendants in support of their applications.
The judge however, as requested by the prosecution, ordered the defendants to deposit their passports and other travel documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court throughout the period of their trial.
