Malabu deal: Court discharges, acquits Adoke, others

An FCT High Court has discharged and acquitted a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke and six others over alleged fraud.

They were charged with allegations of committing infractions relating to the controversial Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, otherwise known as Malabu Oil scam.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sued Adoke and other defendants before the court on an amended 40-count charge bordering on disobeying direction of the law, offering and receiving gratification, conspiracy and forgery, among others.

Adoke, who served as AGF and Minister of Justice under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was prosecuted by EFCC in the suit, marked FCT/HC/CR/151/2020.

Others are Aliyu Abubakar; Rasky Gbinigie; Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited; Shell Nigeria Extra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.

Ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defendants, Justice Kutigi held that any trial processes are evidence driven but in the instance case, the prosecution failed to produce certain documents or call some witnesses to prove its case.

Adoke also filed a no-case-submission at a Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo in a similar matter which the court is yet to decide.