Judiciary
The Federal High Court acquits Waripamo Owei-Dudafa, aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
WARIPAMO Owei-Dudafa, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, has cause to smile. On Thursday, August 28, the Federal High Court in Lagos, discharged and acquitted him of committing fraud totalling an alleged N1.6billion.
Justice Mohammed Idris, in a 190-page judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, failed to prove any of the 22-count charge beyond reasonable doubt against Owei-Dudafa and Joseph Iwejuo, staff of Heritage Bank.
According to Idris, the EFCC’s case was based on suspicions which “cannot take the place of legal evidence”.
He observed that the commission failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan and former NSA Sambo Dasuki, who could have helped its case.
The judge noted that a particular vital witness, Sompre Omeibi, who could have linked the defendants to the offences, was not summoned to testify.
“Why did the prosecution fail to call Sompre Omiebi to testify?” the judge wondered.
He dismissed the EFCC’s claim that the bags delivered by Dudafa to Jonathan contained dollars because there was no proof for that, asking: “How did the prosecution know that the bags contained dollars?”
He accused the prosecution of failing to carry out proper investigation.
– Aug. 28, 2019 @ 3:02 GMT |
Tags: Justice Mohammed Idris Sambo Dasuki Sompre Omeibi WARIPAMO Owei-Dudafa
