A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted Hassan Lawal, ex-Minister of Works and Housing, over allegation of N43.4 million money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Adamu Bello held that the prosecution was unable to prove the charge brought against Lawal.
Justice Bello said: “From the evidence before me, it is indeed clear that the EFCC operatives who investigated the matter did a shoddy job.
“The EFFC was unable to investigate the sources from where the alleged fraud was committed.
“The transactions carried out on Lawal’s bank account were done when he was still the Minister of Labour and not as a Minister of Works and Housing where the alleged fraud was committed.
“The court is also wary of the fact that persons and institutions that should be charged along with the accused were exempted.
“The prosecutor has failed to prove the ingredient of the offence and therefore, cannot establish an illegal act against the accused.
“There is also no evidence to show that the accused conspired with anybody to commit money laundering.
“In the light of these, the charges have failed and I shall not order the accused person to open his defence in the suit.
“The first accused, Dr. Hassan Lawal, is hereby discharged and acquitted.”
Adesanya Adewale, an ex-staff of a bank, who allegedly assisted Lawal to launder the money, was also discharged and acquitted.
The judge said: “In the case of the second accused, Adewale, the testimonies of witnesses from his former bank, UBA, have shown that he was commissioned to recover the loan that Lawal took.
“He cannot be said to have conspired or committed illegal act by simply assisting the bank to recover loan it gave out.
“He is therefore discharged and acquitted.”
The accused persons stood trial on alleged money laundering and misappropriation of funds meant for the rehabilitation of the Guto-Bagana Bridge across River Benue.
Ibrahim Ishiaku, counsel to Lawal, had insisted that the deposits made by his client were genuine transactions as payment for a housing loan procured from the bank.
He, therefore, urged the court to rule that Lawal had no case to answer, as according to him, the charge did not link him directly or indirectly to the allegation.
He said: “My lord, this is a mere allegation, which to me was brought about by the new political leaning of my client.
“In fact, Lawal did not launder any money or misappropriate monies meant for the contract he supervised.”
However, Shittu Wahab, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that the accused used Adewale, an ex-staff of a bank, to launder the money.
Wahab explained that the action contravened the Money Laundering Act 2004.
Wahab said the anti-graft body had charged the ex-minister and Adewale for illegally moving monies that were not traceable to any sources.
The counsel said all the prosecution witnesses earlier testified that the deposits were made in three transactions of N3 million, N4 million and N8.9 million at different times.
Wahab further submitted that one of the witnesses had shown to the court how the ex-minister conspired with Adewale to effect other transactions of N15 million and N12.5 million.
He argued that the transactions were made to be concealed from the public, as he prayed that the application be refused.
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