On Monday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court discharged and acquitted former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Kabiru Turaki of money laundering charges.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to link Mr Turaki and his co-defendants with its 16-count charge.
He said the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.
Mr Ekwo added that the defendants dislodged all the evidence of the prosecution witnesses called in the matter during cross-examination, describing the 12 witnesses relied on by EFCC as “tainted witnesses.”
The judge explained that it was established during cross-examination that Mr Turaki was not a signatory to the ministry’s account and did not authorise any payment or transfer of funds.
He aligned with the argument that the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tender Board and that there was no inflow of funds from the ministry’s account to Mr Turaki’s company.
The EFCC had, in the 16-count charge, accused the ex-minister and others of unlawful and criminal misappropriation of N715 million.
(NAN)
