The 11 corrupt practices for which Nigerian judge, wife are being prosecuted

Nigeria’s Government on Tuesday arraigned a Federal High Court judge, Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olubowale, for alleged fraud.

The duo are accused of receiving gratification to influence the course of justice in trials presided over by Mr. Ademola, at the Abuja division of the court.

Mr. Ademola’s wife, Olubowale, who is currently the Lagos State Head of service, was indicted in two parts of the 11-count charges brought against them.

In the first count of the charge, Mr. Ademola and his wife are accused of committing acts of criminal conspiracy to receive gratification contrary to section 26 (1) (C) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, and punishable under the same section.

According to the charge, they allegedly conspired to collect gratification from a company, Joe Agi and associates, belonging to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi, to the tune of N30 million, in March 2015.

In the second charge, both defendants were accused of committing the act of collecting the said gratification.

In count three, Mr. Ademola is accused of receiving gratification to the tune of $520,000 from a company, Johnson and Johnson solicitors, to influence his decision as a judge. The offence was allegedly committed in May, 2013.

In count four, Mr. Ademola allegedly received N6 million from a law firm identified as Oshodi, Oshodi &Co in February, 2015.

Count five states that Mr. Ademola allegedly received N55,650,000 (fifty-five million, six hundred and fifty thousand) from another law firm, G.T.J Ademola & Co in June, 2016.

In Count six, Mr. Ademola allegedly received N40 million from a company, Vertice Solutions Ltd in February 2014.

Count seven of the charge says Mr. Ademola allegedly engaged in the collection of bribe from a company, Acardian Energy Services Ltd., to the tune of N47,600,000 (forty-seven million, six-hundred thousand naira) in February 2014.

The judge is also alleged, in Count eight, to have received N34,080,000 from someone identified as Omotayo Babafemi Aliyu in February 2014.

In count nine, Mr. Ademola is also accused of collecting bribe amounting to N4,771,300:00 (Four million, seven hundred and seventy one thousand, three hundred naira).

Count ten states that Mr. Ademola allegedly received a bribe of N30 million from Mr. Agi’s company in February 2014.

Count eleven of the charge contains allegations of diverting N175 million from a bank account belonging Mrs. Ademola to a company, Donparker properties.