Court dismisses fraud case against former AGF Adoke

The High Court in Abuja has dismissed the charges of fraud, bribery, and conspiracy filed against a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In his ruling, Justice Abubakar Kutigi said the EFCC failed to prove its charges of fraud, bribery, and money laundering.

He eventually ruled that Adoke had no case to answer and went on to discharge and acquit the defendant on all counts.

The judge said the allegation of illegal tax waivers granted to Shell and Eni was not corroborated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or any authority.

On the allegation of N300 million bribe said to have been given to Adoke by Aliyu Abubakar, the court ruled that the EFCC failed to provide the necessary evidence to prove its case.

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Earlier, the EFCC had conceded that it did not have sufficient evidence to oppose the no-case application by Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant.

The Commission, however, insisted that Rasky Gbinigie had a case to answer concerning the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director of Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd.

Adoke was charged before the High Court in Abuja, on January 15, 2020, along with Abubakar, Gbinijie of Malabu Oil and; Gas Ltd.

Others also charged are Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo).

Adoke was accused of collecting a gratification of N300 million from Abubakar over the OPL 245 resolution.

He was accused of conspiring with other defendants to commit the offence of public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury or to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture which he denied.