Court discharges, acquits Jonathan’s ex-aide of alleged N1.6bn fraud

In a 190-page judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove any of the 22-count charge beyond reasonable doubt against Owei-Dudafa and a Heritage Bank worker Joseph Iwejuo.

He said the anti-graft agency’s case was “based on suspicions” but that suspicions “cannot take the place of legal evidence”.

Justice Idris also observed that the EFCC failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan and former NSA Sambo Dasuki, who could have helped its case.

The judge noted that a particular vital witness, Sompre Omeibi, who could have linked the defendants to the offences, was not summoned to testify.

“Why did the prosecution fail to call Sompre Omiebi to testify?” the judge wondered.

The court also dismissed the EFCC’s claim that the bags delivered by Dudafa to Jonathan contained dollars.

Justice Idris held that there was no proof for that.

“How did the prosecution know that the bags contained dollars?” the judge wondered again.

He said the Prosecution failed to carry out proper investigation.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Simon Ekpa: Nigerians in Finland panic as search for sponsors begins

Minimum wage: No going back on deadline, says NLC

Nigeria to experience ‘currency shocks’ due to Tinubu’s loan spree– LCCI

Lagos task force dislodges traders from Ikotun BRT station

Simon Ekpa: Nigerians in Finland panic as search for sponsors begins

Minimum wage: No going back on deadline, says NLC

Nigeria to experience ‘currency shocks’ due to Tinubu’s loan spree– LCCI

Lagos task force dislodges traders from Ikotun BRT station