The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday has discharged a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, from a seven-year-old money laundering suit instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Naijaonpoint recalls that Adoke and the Chairman of AA Oil, Aliyu Abubakar, were arraigned before the court on an amended 14 counts bordering on money laundering, in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CR/39/17.
But they have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and trial commenced.
The anti-graft agency alleged Adoke received cash payment worth N300 million from Abubakar in August 2013, in Abuja, without going through a financial institution as required by law.
Seven years down the line, the EFCC presented witnesses to testify and subsequently closed its case against the duo.
But counsel for Adoke, Kanu Agabi SAN, filed a “no-case submission” insisting that the EFCC could not establish its case against his client.
Among other things, the EFCC was said to have not complied “with the mandatory provisions of Section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) with regards to the necessity to include the list of witnesses among the proof of evidence and summary of NAIJAONPOINT statement.”
The case was then adjourned till today for judgement.
What the judge said
On Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo upheld the no case submission of Adoke, agreeing that he has no case to answer.
The judge said that the law has always been that the essential ingredient for the offence of conspiracy is inferred from acts that are proved.