The Presidency has debunked the claim by the National Judicial Council that there was no appeal against the ruling of a court discharging and acquitting Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla that the impression created that the NJC was not aware of the appeal before it controversially recalled Justice Ademola was not truth
Obono-Obla’s statement debunking the NJC position said: “Last Saturday the National Judicial Council (NJC) controversially decided to rescind its previous decision to suspend some Judges that were standing trials and or under investigation by law enforcement agencies.
“I want to debunk the false impression created in some sections of the media that the NJC was not aware or that there was no appeal filed by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja dated the 5th April, 2017 in Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others which discharged and acquitted the defendants.Nothing can be further from the truth.
“Indeed, the Office of the Honourable General of the Federation filed notices of appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja over his ruling discharging and acquitting the three defendants on the 7th April, 2017.
“Accordingly, the Court of Appeal pursuant to Order 8 Rule 2 (a) of the Court of Appeal Rules has invited Counsel to the Appellant (the Federal Republic of Nigeria) and the Respondents to attend Court on the 6th June 2017 to reconcile documents for record of appeal.
“I therefore state without fear of contradiction that the appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja discharging and acquitting the defendants Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others is pending before the Court of Appeal.”
