$40m fraud: Court acquits Goodluck Jonathan's cousin

A federal high court sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin Robert Azibaola, of the $40 million laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Azibaola and his Stella, his wife, and their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited were charged by the anti-graft commission for the alleged diverting $40 million meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for special forces.

The diverted fund was said to have been allegedly transferred from the account of the office of the former national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the domiciliary account of their company.

In a judgement on Monday,  Judge Nnamdi Dimgba ruled that no credible evidence was given to establish the allegation of money laundering against Azibaola. He noted that the prosecutor should have produced Dasuki as a witness. 

The judge held that “That the EFCC and the prosecutor cried more than the bereaved.” 

“That the prosecutor has not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the 2-count charge against the defendant.

"The defendant is hereby discharged and acquainted and not guilty.”