Breaking: Court acquits Bafarawa over N15bn corruption case
- The former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa and two three others have been acquitted by the state high court
- Bafarawa was arraigned with others for an alleged N15 billion corruption case
- In his response, the prosecuting counsel, Barrister Jacob Ochidi, applauded the court for followed due process through the sittings
Justice Bello Abbas of Sokoto state high court on Tuesday, July 31, acquitted former governor of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and two three others over the N15 billion corruption case.
Daily Sun reports that the Judge while delivering judgment submitted that all evidence presented before the court were not enough to convict the Attahiru Bafarawa and have not prove beyond reasonable doubt.
He also noted that the prosecutor (EFCC) have not shown the court that every ingredients of the count charges have been established before presenting them to the court.
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The Judge said: “Evidence and records have not prove that the accused persons were guilty as charged and therefore should be acquitted. No sufficient and reliable evidence to probe that these accused persons were guilty.
“The only evident are those of the witnesses and written statements of the accused persons. Beside, those evident have not in anyway shown that the accused really committed the offences they were been charged.
“The Hearsays evidence is not a party to the case and is not acceptable to the court. The prosecutor has a burden duty to prove the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt.”
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In his response, the prosecuting counsel, Barrister Jacob Ochidi, applauded the court for followed due process through the sittings.
He said: “What is matter here is the due process that have been followed to the logical conclusion. We adhered to the court pronouncement.”
The case was through a petition sent to EFCC, dated 18th April, 2008 and signed by the then Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Barrister Inuwa AbdukKadir.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the EFCC said the state high court was to decide the fate of former governor Bafarawa.
The statement said the former governor was charged alongside 16 others for alleged diversion and theft of public funds to the tune of N15 billion and that upon arraignment on December 16, 2009, Bafarawa and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to 47 count charge.
The EFCC gave the names of those charged alongside Bafarawa to include Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, Hajia Aishatu Binji, Senator Salihu Bakwai, Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gunmi, Adamu Gurori.
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Source: Legit.ng
