A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, of $40 million laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ruled on Monday that EFCC had no credible evidence to indict Mr Azibaola.
Dimgba said the prosecutor should have called up former national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who is in custody of the State Security Service (SSS), as a witness.
“…EFCC and the prosecutor cried more than the bereaved. That the prosecutor has not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the 2-count charge against the defendant. The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted and not guilty,” the judge ruled.
EFCC had in 2016 opened a seven-count charge against Azibaola, his wife, Stella, and their company.
The commission claimed that they received $40 million worth of illicit contract from Mr Dasuki.
Mr Jonathan’s cousin and others were arraigned on June 7, 2016 and admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million each.
They were re-arraigned on April 27, 2017 on a nine-count amended charge.
Azibaola’s wife’s name was later struck off the charge sheet.
On February 6, 2019, Azibaola, through his counsel, closed his defence after calling two witnesses, including himself.
