An observer in the continuous trial of a Federal High Court judge, Adeniyi Ademola, has clarified how the State Security Service, SSS, directed its examinations before charges were drawn against the respondents.
Mr. Ademola is confronting trial close by his better half, Olubowale, who is the quick past Head of Service of Lagos State, and Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The witness, Babatunde Adepoju, a SSS authority who drove the examinations concerning the charged offenses conferred by the litigants, said he was allocated to the case after a court order was executed at the living arrangement of the respondent in October.
Mr. Adepoju clarified that he was alloted to examine the matter after the recuperations made amid the pursuit at the habitation of the litigants, and different charges, incorporating those contained in a request of composed against Mr. Ademola.
“There was additionally the assertion that the judge utilized his position as a FHC judge and his nearby ties with Senator Ahmed Tinubu to impact the arrangement of his better half as head of administration, Lagos State.
“My obligation was additionally to lead catch up examinations as respects the fiscal recuperations in Justice Ademola’s condo”, said Mr. Adepoju, who portrayed himself as a well-perused investigative officer.
He however included that Mr. Ademola denied affecting his significant other’s arrangement, including that the judge clarified that his better half was the most senior changeless secretary in Lagos State at the season of her arrangement.
Mr. Adepoju told the court that the recuperations produced using Mr. Ademola’s habitation included neighborhood and remote monetary forms in many thousands, and in addition two guns having a place with Mr. Ademola and another judge, A.R. Mohammed.
As indicated by Mr. Adepoju, the SSS additionally utilized a ballistician who checked the rifles found at the living arrangement of Mr. Ademola amid the inquiry in October.
In the wake of checking the guns, Mr. Adepoju said the firearms were of the class of restricted ammo which must be authorized at the tact of the President of the nation.
He included that in spite of the fact that Mr. Ademola had affirmed that the firearms, which had two distinct licenses, (one for himself and the other for Mr. Mohammed), had a place with the two judges, Mr. Mohammed precluded possession from claiming the rifle.
The SSS agent additionally said there were likewise charges of pay off against the main litigant, which as indicated by his central, affected the request by the respondent for the arrival of pioneer of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and previous National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Mr. Adepoju additionally told the court that of specific reference in his examination was an arrangement of installments made in three tranches to the record of Mrs. Ademola without further ado under the watchful eye of certain court requests were made by Mr. Ademola, for a situation including a customer of Mr. Agi.
“In my further examination on the association between Mrs. Ademola and Agi, I attempted to build up if Barr. Agi had cases pending or closed before Justice Ademola and I found that they really had cases in court,” he said.
“Two among the cases that cocked eyebrows were of AMCON versus FRN and Friday Upkong versus Head of Naval Staff. These two cases included immense aggregates of cash.
“Both cases radiated from Calabar, Cross-River State, Justice Ademola’s past posting. In the AMCON case, three garnishee requests were allowed by Justice Ademola for Joe Agi’s customer, which is Linas International Limited”.
Talking further, Mr. Adepoju clarified how his area of expertise touched base at the claim that Mr. Agi had paid N30 million into the record of Mr. Ademola to impact a judgment.
The witness said the cash was paid by two sea representatives, Ken Hubert and Bassey. As indicated by the witness, the men paid the entirety of $150, 000 which was later changed over to naira by Mr. Agi to the tune of N37 million.
“As per Joe Agi, the transformation rate was N37 million, however he dispatched N30 million to Ms. Olubowale’s record”, the witness expressed.
Amid round of questioning, in any case, Mr. Adepoju said the claims of impacting the arrangement of Mrs. Ademola, made against her better half was a verbal brief given to him by his prevalent; including that as an investigative officer, he has the caution to either acknowledge the brief or deny it, in view of confirmation available to him.
In light of Mr. Adepoju’s announcement on affecting Mrs. Ademola’s arrangement, the safeguard legal counselor asked whether he had any such confirmation and he reacted in the negative.