By Our Correspondent
National News – A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday discharged and acquitted former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, of alleged N570 million money laundering charges.
The ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, followed a no-case submission filed by the defence after nearly six years of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused Oyo-Ita and eight others of fraud involving duty tour allowances, estacodes, and contract-related kickbacks.
The court held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case, stating that the allegations were unsupported by credible evidence.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the EFCC did not prove that the funds in question were proceeds of unlawful activities, a key requirement in money laundering cases.
He also noted that approvals existed for contracts and travel-related payments cited in the charges.
According to the judge, the prosecution relied on speculation rather than verifiable documentation.
Crucial records such as travel approvals, audit reports, and official memos were not presented in court.
He further emphasised that there was no evidence that Oyo-Ita owned or controlled the companies linked to the alleged transactions.
The court also rejected confessional statements attributed to Oyo-Ita and some co-defendants, citing non-compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Specifically, the EFCC failed to provide video evidence of how the statements were obtained, rendering them inadmissible.
Oyo-Ita, who was removed from office in September 2019 amid corruption allegations, had consistently denied wrongdoing.
The EFCC had formally arraigned her in March 2020, calling eight witnesses during the trial.
However, the defence argued that none of the testimonies sufficiently established the elements of the alleged offences.
In his final ruling, Justice Omotosho discharged and acquitted all defendants on the 18-count charge, effectively bringing the high-profile case to a close.
