Politics
Buhari’s lawyer gave Justice Ademola N.5m during certificate saga –Witness
A prosecution witness, Mr. Babatunde Adepoju, while testifying before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama against Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Tuesday, revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari, during his certificate saga case, allegedly paid N500,000 to the embattled judge.
Adepoju, is a Department of State Service’s (DSS’) investigator and the 16th prosecution witness (PW16) in the ongoing corruption trial of Justice Ademola, his wife, Olabowale and Joe Agi (SAN).
He told the court that in the course of interrogating Agi that he had revealed that Buhari’s lawyer, Mr. Kola Awodein, paid N500, 000 to Justice Ademola.
He said Agi told him that the money was paid in 2015 at the time the embattled Federal High Court judge was presiding over Buhari’s certificate case saga.
Adepoju added that Agi had claimed during the interrogation that money paid to Justice Ademola by Buhari’s counsel was not meant to be a bribe but a gift for the wedding ceremony of Ademola’s daughter.
He further revealed that Agi also disclosed that the money was part of the gifts Justice Ademola received from many donors towards his daughter’s wedding ceremony.
Adepoju made this disclosure when he was cross-examined by defence lawyers.
Read also: Agi won $4.4bn cases under Justice Ademola, gave Mrs Ademola N30m, DSS tells court
He also confirmed that in the course of investigating the case against the defendants, he interrogated and took the statements of Justice Ademola and Agi only.
Adepoju confirmed that Agi had explained under interrogation that the sum of N30 million was the money contributed by his and Justice Ademola’s mutual friends for the judge’s daughter’s wedding ceremony.
He said Agi told him that the money was paid to Olabowale’s (Ademola’s wife) account.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is prosecuting Justice Ademola, his wife, Olabowale and Agi jointly on charges bordering on receiving and giving gratification to influence the course of justice.
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