A Federal High Court, Abuja, has discharged and acquitted a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, of money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had failed to link Mr Turaki and his co-defendants with the offences contained in the 16-count charge.
He said that the prosecution could not established a prima facie case against them.
Justice Ekwo said that the defendants dislodged all the evidences of the prosecution witnesses called in the matter during cross-examination, describing the 12 witnesses relied on by EFCC as “tainted witnesses.”
The Judge said that it was established during cross-examination that Mr Turaki was not a signatory to the account of the ministry and did not authorised any payment or make any 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 account of the ministry to Turaki’s company.
The EFCC in the 16-count charge, accused the ex-Minister and others of unlawful and criminal misappropriation of N715 million. He pleaded not guilty of the charge upon arraignment.
