Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Aliyu Abubakar’s statements to implicate Mohammed Bello Adoke in money laundering case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo rules the statements were obtained unlawfully, and EFCC can’t rely on them for prosecution.
Abubakar had claimed EFCC coerced him to make false claims against Adoke.
The EFCC brought the case against Adoke and Abubakar on allegations of money laundering.
Adoke claimed Abubakar offered him a property for N500 million, but he couldn’t raise the equity contribution.
EFCC’s star witness stated no money laundering involved in the transaction; it was “transparent and legitimate.”
The court ruled statements made in an oppressive environment, intimidating Abubakar, were inadmissible.
The court rejected all statements from Abubakar as inadmissible under the Evidence Act.
The trial continues on Wednesday, July 18.
Case Summary
The EFCC had arraigned Adoke and Abubukar on money laundering charges in August 2020.
EFCC alleged Adoke made a $2,267,400 cash payment to Unity Bank in 2013, violating money laundering laws.
Adoke claimed Abubakar offered him a property for N500 million, with a N300 million mortgage from Unity Bank.
Unable to pay N200 million equity, Abubakar refunded the mortgage and sold the property to CBN.
EFCC’s star witness, Rislanudeen Mohammed, stated no money laundering occurred; the transaction was “transparent and legitimate.”
Although, the case before Ekwo does not mention the controversial OPL 245 deal, the EFCC is using the same particulars to prosecute Adoke, Abubakar and others in another suit before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.