President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dismissal of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, formerly of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Similarly, Justice O. O. Tokode of the Benin division of the Federal High Court, also had his compulsory retirement approved by Buhari, according to a statement by Garba Shehu, senior presidential spokesman.

Shehu added that Tokode was directed to refund all the salaries and allowances he “earned illegally” since December 2, 2015, when he was sworn in as a judge of the Federal High Court.

“The disciplinary actions on the two Justices are in pursuance of Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” Shehu stated.

Ademola was one of the judges whose residences were raided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in October 2016, on suspicion of corruption.

He was later arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, alongside Olabowale, his wife, and Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on an 11-count charge of conspiring to receive bribes in order to pervert justice.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and eventually, the court discharged and acquitted him, saying his accusers were unable to establish a prima facie case against him.

However, the Federal Government said it had appealed the judgement, wondering why Justice Jude Okeke, the trial judge, discharged the accused person despite the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution.

“In efforts to save the war against corruption following a streak of losses in the courts, the Federal Government yesterday (Thursday) filed an appeal against the decision of Justice Jude Okeke to uphold the no case submission in the corruption case against Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola and Mr. Joe Agi, SAN,” read a statement issued by the presidency on April 6, 2017.

“The Government through the Ministry of Justice has also filed a fresh case in the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Justice Ademola and wife for living above their means and failure to declare their assets.”

Meanwhile, a day after the DSS raid on his residence, Ademola wrote Mahmud Mohammed, then Chief Justice of Nigeria, alleging that his “persecution” was being orchestrated by Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, because of a misunderstanding they had years back in Kano.