Foremost human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has urged the federal government to tender its apology to Jus­tice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja for dragging his repu­tation in the mud over cor­ruption charges.
An Abuja High Court had on Wednesday dis­charged Justice Ademola, his wife, Olubowale and Chief Joe Agi (SAN) of an 18-count charge bordering on bribery and corruption.
While reacting to the out­come of the trial in a state­ment yesterday, Ozekhome said it was laughable after the initial grandstanding of the federal government in tackling corruption.
The constitutional law­yer accused the Presiden­tial Advisory Committee Against Corruption being led by Prof Itse Sagay of taking over the duties of the Attorney General of the Federation.
He further averred that the government’s anti-graft fight was being deployed to settle political scores and silence opposition political parties in the country.
Ozekhome did not spare the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in his outburst as he accused the anti-graft agency of procur­ing cheap ex-parte injunc­tions against innocent Ni­gerians.
He urged the National Judicial Council to quickly recall Justice Ademola from suspension and restore all his judicial privileges.
The statement reads in part:
“Justice Adeniyi Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has just been discharged by an FCT High Court, Abuja, coram Justice Jude Okeke, after a no case submission by his defence counsel. His wife, Olubowale and Mr Joe Agi, SAN, with whom he was tried, were equally dis­charged.
“This is an obviously laughable and anti-climax after all the ‘gra gra’, grand­standing, posturing, rabble rousing and wanton degra­dation of the Judiciary by their traducers.”
This discharge was after the horrific humiliation of Justice Ademola, whose home was savagely invaded by rampaging, masked and hooded DSS operatives, be­tween the ungodly and un­holy hours of 12 mid night to 5am. - The Authority