Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has thrown out the money laundering charges brought against former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In ruling on a no-case submission filed by the former AGF, Justice Ekwo determined that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against Adoke.
He further asserted that the EFCC did not present any evidence to substantiate the essential elements of the offence against Adoke.
The EFCC had accused Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, in 2017 of money laundering amounting to N300 million.
While the OPL 245 transaction was not mentioned in this case, similar charges were brought by the EFCC before Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT high court in 2020.
While the EFCC acknowledged to Ekwo that Adoke had taken a mortgage from Unity Bank, it contended before Kutigi that the funds were a bribe stemming from the sale of the oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.
On March 28, 2024, Kutigi highlighted this inconsistency, dismissing the charges against Adoke and other defendants. He rebuked the EFCC for consuming the court’s time for four years.
Justice Ekwo similarly upheld the no-case submission, thereby exonerating Adoke.
However, Ekwo ruled that Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant, must present his defense as he was deemed to have a case to answer.
Abdulrauf also mentioned that the injured individuals were transported to a hospital in Sabuwa Local Government in neighboring Katsina State for medical treatment.