ON Thursday, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, former senior special adviser on domestic affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has been discharged and acquitted of an allegation of N1.6bn fraud.
The Federal High Court in Lagos discharged Dudafa alongside a banker, Joseph Iwuejo since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubts.
According to the judgment by Justice Mohammed Idris, EFCC through his counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, failed to prove the charges against the defendants beyond reasonable doubts.
Justice Idris further held that the prosecution failed to call “material witnesses”, such as Jonathan, one Somprei Omeibi, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who were essential to the proving of the case.
So, he said convicting the duo was difficult, as prosecution case did not measure up to the expected minimum requirement to secure a conviction, The PUNCH report.
The judge said the failure of the EFCC to call the witnesses was lethal to the case of the prosecution. He mentioned the case was based on misgivings, and not grounded to secure a conviction.
Judge Idris dismissed all 22-counts against Dudafa and Iwuejo, discharged and acquitted them, saying the EFCC had not concluded inquiry before rushing to court.
However, the EFCC has vowed to appeal the judgment at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The duo was docked by the EFCC before Justice Idris of the Federal High Court Lagos on 22-counts of charge bordering on money laundering of over N1.6bn while performing his duties as a top aide to the former president.
They laundered the funds through the accounts of four companies – Ebiwise Resources Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Rotato Inter-Link Services Limited, and Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited.
Dudafa allegedly received the assistance of the second defendant, Iwuejo, a branch manager of a new generation bank, who was in charge of the said accounts.