Justice Mohammed Idris, sitting at a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday discharged and acquitted a former Senior Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa and a banker, Joseph Iwuejo, who were charged with N1.6bn fraud.
The court said it found it difficult to convict them because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubts.
The judge held that the EFCC failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan, one Somprei Omeibi, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor and ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who were essential to proving of the case.
Justice Idris said the failure of the EFCC to call Jonathan, Omeibi, CBN governor, and Dasuki to testify in the case was fatal to the case of the prosecution.
While saying that money laundering was difficult to prove, the judge said the prosecution tried its best to prove the case, but its best did not measure up to the expected minimum requirement to secure a conviction.
Justice Idris said the case of the EFCC was built on suspicion and suspicion, no matter how strong, could not be used to secure a conviction.
Reacting to the judgement, the EFCC yesterday, in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, vowed to appeal the judgment
He said the commission was studying the details of the judgment and would approach the Appeal Court immediately.