A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the money laundering charge filed against former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.
The charge was filed against Adoke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Adoke’s no-case submission on Friday, April 19, 2024, said he found that the EFCC was unable to prove the essential ingredients of the evidence adduced in counts one to four of the 10-count charge filed against the ex-AGF and his co-defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
Justice Ekwo, who held that the evidence were manifestly unreliable, consequently upheld Adoke’s no-case submission.
The judge, therefore, declared Adoke discharged and acquitted of the money laundering charge.
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However, Justice Ekwo held that the anti-graft agency was unable to make a prima facie case against Abubakar, the oil magnate, in counts five, six, eight, and nine of the charge preferred against him.
He struck out counts one, seven, and 10 against the businessman.
The judge, therefore, adjourned until April 22, 23, and 24 for Abubakar to open his defence.
The EFCC had sued Adoke and Abubakar on a 10-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offences.
The matter, which began in 2017, lasted for about 7 years.
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