The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted Dr Waripamo Owei-Dudafa, a former aide of the former President Goodluck Jonathan
Dr Waripamo Owei-Dudafa was charged for an alleged N1.6billion fraud. In a 190-page judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to prove any of the 22-count charge beyond reasonable doubt against Owei-Dudafa and a Heritage Bank worker Joseph Iwejuo.
He said the anti-graft agency’s case was “based on suspicions” but that suspicions “cannot take the place of legal evidence”.
Justice Idris also observed that the EFCC 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.