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A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Senior Special Adviser to immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, and a banker, Joseph Iwuejo, who were charged with an alleged N1.6 billion fraud.
The court, in its ruling by Justice Mohammed Idris, said it found it difficult to convict the duo because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubts.
Consequently, he held that the EFCC failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan, one Somprei Omeibi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who were essential to proving the case.
Justice Idris said EFCC’s failure to call the people to testify in the case was fatal to the case of the prosecution.
Acknowledging that money-laundering charges were difficult to prove, the judge said the prosecution tried its best to prove the case, but its best did not meet up with 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.
He held that the EFCC did not conclude its investigation before rushing to court, thereby living loopholes in the matter and, therefore, dismissed the 22 count charges against Dudafa and Iwuejo.
The discharged and acquitted defendants had been standing trial since 2016.