Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT High Court has dismissed charges of fraud, bribery, and conspiracy leveled against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on the “no case” submission made by Adoke, Kutigi said the EFCC failed to prove its charges of fraud, bribery and money laundering and ruled that the defendant has no case to answer.
The judge said the allegation of illegal tax waivers granted to Shell and Eni was not corroborated by the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) or any authority in government.
On the alleged N300 million bribe said to have been given to Adoke by Abubakar, the court ruled that the EFCC did not provide any evidence to prove its case.
Nigeria has now lost virtually all the cases it filed or joined in Italy, the UK and Nigeria.
He discharged and acquitted the former minister on all counts.
This is expected to finally bring litigation over the OPL 245 saga to a close.
The EFCC had earlier conceded that it did not have sufficient evidence to oppose the applications by Adoke, who was listed as first defendant, and others — although it insisted that Rasky Gbinigie had a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director.The EFCC had earlier conceded that it did not have sufficient evidence to oppose the applications by Adoke, who was listed as first defendant, and others — although it insisted that Rasky Gbinigie had a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director.
