The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), of money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, delivered the ruling on Friday in response to a no-case submission filed by Adoke.
Justice Ekwo held that the EFCC failed to present sufficient evidence, known as prima facie evidence, to establish the alleged offences against Adoke.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo stated, "I find that there is no evidence to prove the alleged offences against the first defendant (Adoke)." However, the judge ruled differently for Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant, stating that he must open his defence as there is a case to answer against him.
The EFCC had filed a 14-count charge against Adoke and Abubakar, alleging that Adoke accepted a cash payment equivalent to N300 million in US dollars from Abubakar in August 2013 in Abuja, thereby violating the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended.
With Adoke's acquittal, the legal proceedings have reached a crucial juncture, and further details are expected to emerge in due course.
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