In a significant development, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), has been acquitted of money laundering charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges were brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on a no-case submission filed by Adoke, stating that the EFCC failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a case against him.
The judge emphasized, “Upon review, I have found a lack of evidence to support the alleged offences attributed to the first defendant (Adoke).”
Contrarily, Justice Ekwo ruled that Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant, must provide a defense as he is deemed to have a case to answer.
The EFCC had pressed charges on Adoke and oil mogul Aliyu Abubakar, totaling 14 counts.
According to the Anti-graft agency, the allegation against Adoke was that in August 2013, in Abuja, he received a cash payment equivalent to $300 million in Naira from Abubakar. This action purportedly violated section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended.
Further details awaited…