N500,000 given to Justice Ademola by Buhari – Witness

Recall that some people filed a suit challenging President
Buhari’s candidacy preceding the 2015 elections, asserting the president does
not possess any secondary school certificate as mandatory by law.

Now, a witness in the trial of Justice Adeniyi Ademola for
corruption claimed that President Buhari gave the accused judge N500,000 while
his case on certificate matter was pending before Justice Ademola.

Justice Ademola is at present under prosecuted by the
Nigerian government for bribery allegations which he has denied and on the
other hand, wished for accelerated hearing at the trial in Abuja‎.

The wife of the Federal Judge, Olubowale Ademola and a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi are also under prosecution alongside
Justice Ademola.

According to Premium Times, Babatunde Adepoju, an operative
of the SSS, who led the investigations into the charges, established on Tuesday
that he got the information (about the gift of N500, 000) during the interrogation
of Mr. Agi, that the gift was sent through Kola Awodehin, the President’ lawyer,  to Mr Ademola.

The money was purportedly sent as a gift for Ademola’s
daughter’s wedding ceremony, and was brought to the judge by Kola Awodehin.

Kola Awodehin is one of the lawyers who represented President
Buhari in a case of alleged forgery of secondary school certificate before the
2015 presidential elections.

When Mr Agi’s lawyer inquired Adepoju whether the N500,000
was given to Ademola coincides with the time Mr. Buhari had a pending case
before Mr. Adeniyi Ademola, could be call a bribe, in order for the judge to rule
in his favour.

Mr. Adepoju responded, emphasizing that “such would amount to a speculation in my opinion”.

Lawyer to Ademola, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, later told the court
that his client would wish to make a no-case-submission.

The trial judge, Jude Okeke, adjourned the case till March
15, 2017 for hearing of the submission.