N43m theft: Former works minister discharged and acquitted

It was victory songs for the duo of former works minister, Hassan Lawal and Adesanya Adewale, a former bank official yesterday, as they were discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court from the eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and corruption to the tune of N43 million slammed on them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Adamu Bello in his ruling on no case submission made by the accused persons lampooned the ant-graft agency for what he described as a shoddy investigation.

The accused persons had earlier pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them and brought a no case submission after the prosecution had closed its case. In his ruling, Justice Bello held that the prosecution failed to prove the essential ingredients of money laundering before the court, adding that the anti graft agency did not present any evidence to prove that the transferred funds were derived from illegal and corrupt proceeds.

Dismissing the count on conspiracy, the court held that having failed to prove that money transferred was illegal and unlawful source, it could not be proved that there was conspiracy between the 1st and 2nd accused person. Justice Bello also held that the charge of conspiracy to launder money failed in its entirety, stating that from the exhibits before the court, there was nothing like conspiracy.