Justice Ademola avoid photojournalists in court

- Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olabowale finally showed up in court today, December 13

- The couple were absent in court on Monday, December 5

- Justice Ademola avoided photojournalists who tried to take a photo of him

- The judge was however granted N50 million bail by the court

UPDATE: Justice Ademola has been granted N50 million bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ademola and his wife are expected to provide a bail bond of N50 million each to the federal government, the court ruled.

Although, the judge has been mandated to submit his travel passports to the court's registrar, no surety is expected to be provided by the arraigned judge.

During his ruling today, December 13, Justice Jude Okeke said since the prosecution did not object to the application by the defendant to continue enjoying an administrative baik granted to him by the Department of State Services, the court in its discretion will grant the defendants bail.

Okeke also urged counsels in the matter to agree on a date for commencement of trail.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed a date for the commencement of trial for the couple. m

Justice Okeke urged parties involved in the matter to pick a date for commencement of trial.

After due consultations the parties agreed that trial on the matter commence in 2017 due to the festive period and holiday.

The court further ruled that the matter be adjourned to Wednesday, January 18, 2017, for commencement of trial.

Read our earlier report below:

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja and his wife, Olabowale, who is the Head of Service of Lagos State showed up in court on Tuesday, December 13 before a High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

On sighting the photo-journalists stationed around the court premises, Justice Ademola made sure he was not captured by the lenses. 

 The situation was the same inside the courtroom as Justice Ademola made sure his face was not captured by the photo-journalists who tried their best to get his photo.

The couple were arraigned on charges of receiving gratification. They are facing a 15-count charged preferred by the federal government.

The offences against the Justice and his wife are said to have been committed between 2014 amd 2016.

Specifically, the government alleged that Ademola and his wife, committed offences contrary to Section 8 of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act, 2011 and Section 115 of the Penal Code Law .

The couple allegedly received N40million between February 20 and 21, 2014 and another N30 million from Messers Joe Odey Agi and Associates between March 11 and 26, 2015.

Justice Ademola was said to have received N30 million from Agi who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, between March 11 and 26, 2015, with his wife who is a senior civil servant with the Lagos state government, also pocketing another N30m from the same source.

Justice Ademola was one of the federal high court judges arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) after a raid on their homes some months back.

Meanwhile, security at the court was tightened today as the chief judge, Justice Ishaq Bello was seen directing security officials to search individual gaining access into the court thoroughly.

Bello who was guarded with about 10 heavily armed police officers said all individual including staff of the High court must be screened.

"Make sure nobody passes through without being properly screened, including staff," Bello said

Also as part of the new security measure, a guest register was kept at the entrance for signing.

All visitors including journalists were mandated to sign the register, while being monitored by a court security personnel.