On Monday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court discharged and acquitted former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Kabiru Turaki of money laundering charges.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to link Mr Turaki and his co-defendants with its 16-count charge.

He said the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.

Mr Ekwo added that the defendants dislodged all the evidence of the prosecution witnesses called in the matter during cross-examination, describing the 12 witnesses relied on by EFCC as “tainted witnesses.”

The judge explained that it was established during cross-examination that Mr Turaki was not a signatory to the ministry’s account and did not authorise any payment or transfer of funds.

He aligned with the argument that the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tender Board and that there was no inflow of funds from the ministry’s account to Mr Turaki’s company.

The EFCC had, in the 16-count charge, accused the ex-minister and others of unlawful and criminal misappropriation of N715 million.

(NAN)