Justice Adeniyi Ademola, judge of the Federal High Court, accused by the Department of State Services (DSS) of corruption, has withdrawn from the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), The Cable reports.
Ademola announced his decision to withdraw from the trial before the court on Tuesday.
He cited allegations of corruption levelled against him by the DSS, which is the prosecution in the case, as the reason for his action.
When Dasuki’s case was called, Ademola addressed Dapo Okpeseyi, the prosecution, and Adedayo Adedeji, counsel to Dasuki, before announcing his decision to withdraw from the case.
“I’m sure you are conversant with what is going on the last seven days. One of the allegations being made against me is that I received some money from Sambo Dasuki,” he said.
“This is the allegation of the DSS. I thought I should tell the counsel what is being said. Before I announce my decision let me ask the defendant (Dasuki) some questions.”
Ademola and Dasuki then had a dialogue that went as follows:
Ademola: Do you know me at all?
Dasuki: Before I came to this court, not at all.
Ademola: Did you at any time give me money?
Dasuki: Not that I am aware of.
Ademola: Did you send your lawyers to give me money?
Dasuki: Not at all.
Ademola: Did you give money to any of my relatives?
Dasuki: Not at all, maybe the DSS alleging that did.”
The DSS raided Ademola’s house, and arrested him on October 7.
The secret police claimed it found huge sums of money — foreign currencies — in his possession.
In response to the allegations, the judge wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, claiming he was being harassed and intimidated by the DSS for granting bail to Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, director of Radio Biafra.
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