The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission note with concern two separate decisions by court on December
13, 2013 in cases investigated by the Commission. The first was the acquittal
of former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Olabode Goerge and
five others by the Supreme Court. The other was the acquittal of former
Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory,
Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and two other by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Without going into the merit or
otherwise of the Supreme court ruling, it is unfortunate that the apex court
disagreed with the decision of the two lower courts- the Lagos High Court and
the Court of Appeal- which upheld the conviction of the accused persons based
on the evidence presented by the Commission.
While this turn of event is
saddening, the Commission as a law abiding institution always respected judicial
pronouncements and this will be no different.
On El- Rufai and others, the
trial judge, Justice Sadiq Umar believes the Commission failed to establish a
prima facie case against the accused persons. This is against the weight of the
evidence presented by the Commission in court. Consequently, the EFCC has
resolved to pursue an appeal against the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
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