Ekweremadu asks CJ to transfer forgery case to another Judge

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Abuja, to transfer the case of forgery preferred against him by some members of the All Progressives Congress in the senate, from the judge currently handling it, to an independent judge.

Ekweremadu, who is the Second Defendant in the suit filed  by Senator Abu Ibrahim and four others against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and five others on the alleged forgery of the senate Standing Order 2015, alleged that Justice A. Ademola, who is handling the case, was biased.

He further alleged in his letter dated 17th December 2015, and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday,  that since the suit was filed, his counsel had been subjected to various acts of intimidation and harassment by Justice Ademola.

He said, ” Any independent bystander in court cannot but arrive at the conclusion that Justice Ademola is clearly biased in this matter and is working to a predetermined conclusion.”

He equally alleged that Justice Ademola “is closely associated with the APC and the top hierarchy of the party and I have incontrovertible evidence that he is a very close friend of Chief Bola Tinubu, the leader of APC.”

Ekweremadu also alleged that as a result of his (Ademola’s) closeness to the APC leaders,  and to ensure that he does their bidding,  “Hon. Justice Ademola’s wife, Mrs. Olabowale Toluwalope Ademola,  was on 19th October, 2015, sworn in as the Head of Service in Lagos State under the control of the APC.”

Ekweremadu’s letter reads, ” My Lord, in the circumstances, there is a real likelihood of bias on the part of Hon . Justice Ademola and I do not have confidence in his ability to do impartial justice in this case.

“I therefore humbly request that this matter be recalled from Hon . Ademola’s court and transfered/ reassigned to any other judge for hearing and speedy determination.”

The deputy senate president attached with the letter, a formal application for transfer of the suit in accordance with Order 49 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules.

Ekweremadu and five others including Saraki and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikashuwa, were dragged to the Federal High Court in June last year for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Order used to elect the current principal officers  of the Eighth Senate.

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