The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Head of Service of the Federation Winifred Oyo Ita of alleged N570 million money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice James Omotosho upheld the no case submissions filed by Oyo Ita and eight co defendants, ruling that the EFCC failed to elish a prima facie case after about six years of trial.
The judge held that the evidence presented by the prosecution carried no legal weight and was largely based on speculation and inadequate investigation.
According to the court, the essential elements required to prove money laundering were not elished, particularly the existence of a predicate offence linking the accused persons to unlawful funds.
Justice Omotosho noted that documents before the court indicated that contracts referenced in the allegations were properly approved and executed through official channels.
He further stated that payments such as estacodes, duty tour allowances, and air tickets were duly approved and could not be criminalized without proof of wrongdoing.
The court also faulted the prosecution for failing to provide key evidence such as travel approvals, official memos, and audit reports that would have supported its claims.
It ruled that the prosecution effectively asked the court to rely on speculation rather than concrete evidence.
The judge also found that Oyo Ita was not a director or shareholder in the companies allegedly linked to the transactions under investigation, weakening the basis of the charges.
He concluded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to show that any of the funds involved were proceeds of illegal activity.
Justice Omotosho subsequently discharged and acquitted all defendants on the 18 count charge.
The EFCC had arraigned Oyo Ita and others in March 2020 over allegations involving duty tour allowances, estacodes, and contract kickbacks totaling about N570 million.
During the trial, the commission presented witnesses and documentary exhibits, but the court ruled that they were insufficient to sustain the charges.
The judge also rejected some confessional statements attributed to the defendants, stating that they were not obtained in compliance with legal requirements under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
He held that the absence of video recordings of statement taking sessions further weakened the prosecution’s case.
Oyo Ita was removed from office in 2019 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari following corruption allegations that eventually led to the trial.
The judgment brings an end to a high profile case that had drawn public attention for several years.
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