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Court Acquits Ex-minister Turaki Of Money Laundering Charges

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Court Acquits Ex-minister Turaki Of Money Laundering Charges
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, of money laundering charges.

Naija News reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) had arraigned the former minister and three others in 2020, on a 16-count charge bordering on unlawful and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N715 million.

The EFCC alleged that the ex-minister used two companies belonging to his aide to illegally transfer funds.

After the EFCC closed its case, rather than open its defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission.

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Delivering a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the EFCC failed to link Turaki and his co-defendants with the offences contained in the 16-count charge.

The presiding judge said the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.

Ekwo said the defendants countered the testimonies of the 12 witnesses called by the prosecution, describing them as “tainted”.

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

He agreed with the reasoning that the former minister was not a member of the ministerial tender board and that no monies were transferred from the ministry’s account to Turaki’s firm.