FG Withdraws Charges Against Mohammed Abacha Over N100bn Scam

A Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Wednesday, discharged Mohammed Abacha, son of late former Military Head of State , General Sani Abacha, for allegedly receiving N100.38 billion worth of stolen property.

It was gathered that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, on behalf of the Federal Government, had filed a nine-count charge against Abacha.

But Justice Mamman Kolo of the FCT High Court discharged Abacha after Federal Government’s Counsel, Daniel Enwelum, made an oral application asking the court to withdraw the criminal charges against the suspect.

The judge also granted the application for discontinuation of trial, which was not opposed by the defense counsel, Mr Abdullahi Haruna.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the Federal Government counsel told the court that he was instructed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to withdraw the charges.

Enwelum argued that the application became necessary in view of emerging facts and circumstances of the case.

The prosecution thereafter filed a notice of discontinuation of the case.

It would be recalled that Enwelum was hired by government to prosecute the case to its logical conclusion.

The AGF alleged that Abacha had received property worth N100.38 billion between 1995 and 1998, which was acquired unlawfully by the father and later forfeited to government.

* Muhammed Abacha

lMohammed Abacha is the eldest surviving son of Nigeria's former de facto President, the late general Sani Abacha and Maryam Abacha.

During his father's military rule, Mohammed Abacha was involved in looting the government.

A preliminary report published by the Abdulsalam Abubakar transitional government in November 1998 described the process which the Abachas used to siphoned money from national coffers.

It was revealed that the late Sani Abacha told his National Security Adviser Ismaila Gwarzo to provide fake funding requests, which Abacha approved.

The funds were usually sent in cash or travellers' cheques by the Central Bank of Nigeria to Gwarzo Kuncnoni, who took them to Abacha's house.

Mohammed Abacha then arranged to launder the money to offshore accounts.

It was believed that an estimated $1.4 billion in cash was delivered in this way.

Source: Legit.ng