The aide of former president Goodluck Jonathan, Waparimo-Owei Dudafa who was charged alongside staff of Heritage bank, Iwejuo Joseph, for laundering the sum of N1.6billion were today discharged and acquitted on all the 22 counts criminal charge preferred against them.
In his judgement the presiding Judge Idris Mohammed “said the EFCC prosecutor tried his best but failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt as vital witnesses like, ex-president Jonathan, the former security adviser Sambo Dasuki, one Sombre Omoebi, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria,and Members of Anglican Church Otuoke were not called to testify in the case.
Aside this shortfall, justice Idris said the EFCC investigation was not indept decisive,and conclusive, as the prosecutor based his case on assumption and not on legal findings ,therefore find it difficult to convict the defendants, they are discharged and aquited.
During the trial of this case the EFCC, prosecutor Mr Rotimi Oyedepo called Seven prosecution witnesses, and tendered 805 documentary evidences.
Dudafa who was led in evidence by Barrister Adegboyega Oyewole SAN testify for himself and tendered four exhibits while Barrister Ige Asemudara led Iwejuo Joseph to testify for himself.
Justice Idris further said ‘ for the avoidance of doubt we are committed to fighting corruption but the investigation of the EFCC was not conclusive but based on assumption, therefore I find the defendants not guilty, therefore they are discharged and acquitted.
After the judgement, Mr Asemudara urged the court to de-freeze the account of the defendants that have been frozen, but Mr Oyedepo while conceding the fact that the court has power to de-frezee the accounts of the defendants since they have been discharged and acquited, and in the past the court has forfeited to the Federal Government money seized from convicted persons, but some of the money sought to be de-frezee are in the custody of EFCC.
At this stage, Justice Idris ordered Mr Asemudara to file proper application.
