The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, of allegations related to a ₦2.5 billion fraud.
In a judgment delivered yesterday, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) failed to provide sufficient evidence linking Modibbo to any crime.
The court noted that witness testimonies were inconsistent, and as a result, Modibbo was cleared of the five-count amended charge brought against him, Dipo Onifade, and Pinnacle Communications Ltd.
The case originally involved Sir Lucky Omoluwa, who passed away during the trial, prompting the ICPC to amend its initial 12-count charge.
The prosecution had accused Modibbo of manipulating the Minister of Information and Culture into approving a ₦2.5 billion payment to Pinnacle Communications Ltd, a company allegedly owned by his associate, Omoluwa. The ICPC claimed that ₦537.25 million from the funds was converted to dollars through a Bureau-de-Change operator and delivered in cash to Omoluwa’s residence in Kaduna.
Despite these allegations, the defendants, first arraigned in 2019, pleaded not guilty, and the court ultimately dismissed the case.
