A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday discharged and acquitted a cousin to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola of the $40 million laundering charges against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed the charges against Azibaola, his wife, Stella and their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited for allegedly diverting about $40 million meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for special forces.
EFCC claimed that the money was allegedly transferred from the account of the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to the domiciliary account of Azibaola’s company.
EFCC had in the course of the trial produced 10 witnesses and tendered 27 documents before the court before closing its case on January 23.
Counsel to Azibaola, Chris Uche had filed a no-case submission to dismiss the charge against his clients.
However, delivering judgement, the trial judge, Nnamdi Dimgba ruled that EFCC had no credible evidence to establish the allegation of money laundering against Azibaola.
Dimgba ruled that the prosecutor should have produced Dasuki as a witness.
He said: “That the EFCC and the prosecutor cried more than the bereaved.
“That the prosecutor has not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the 2-count charge against the defendant.
“The defendant is hereby discharged and acquainted and not guilty.”
