A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged Senator Ademola Adeleke in the alleged examination malpractices trial involving him and four others.
Adeleke was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja in October 2018 along with Sikiru Adeleke (who is said to be the senator’s relative), Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (the school principal), Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (registrar) and Dare Samuel Olutope (teacher).
In a ruling on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said he was minded to discharge Adeleke in view of the prosecution’s decision to withdraw charges against the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
Justice Ekwo elected to continue with the trial of the other four co-defendants in the case, who were re-arraigned on Thursday on a seven-count amended charge filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, prosecution lawyer, Simon Lough said the state has amended the charge to exclude Adeleke, in view of his continued absence in court.
Adeleke has failed to attend court since last year when he was granted permission, by the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, to travel to the United States on medical grounds.
Lawyers to the defendants, led by Alex Izinyon (SAN) did not object to the prosecution’s decision to amend its charge.
They however disagreed with the prosecution on the appropriate order to be made; whether Adeleke should be simply discharged, based on the withdrawal of the charge against him, or whether he should be discharged and acquitted.
