A Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, yesterday discharged and acquitted a former minister of foreign affairs, Aminu Wali and a Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Coordinator, Mansur Ahmad of money laundering charges.
The duo were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside a former Kano state Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau in May 2018, for allegedly collected the sum of N950 million from Nenadi Usman, the Director, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Campaign, in March 2015 for then president Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.
The EFCC alleged that the monies distributed by the PDP under Jonathan’s administration were proceeds of stolen funds looted from public treasury.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the transaction of the money did not followed standard banking rules -thereby committing offences under section 1(a) of Money Laundering Act 2011, punishable under section 16 (2b) of same act.
Delivering judgment yesterday, the judge, Lewis Allagoa, said the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He, therefore, discharged and acquitted the defendants.
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, Wali said the court verdict has vindicated him of allegation of committing money laundering. While appreciating the support of his followers, he claimed that his prosecution was political motivated.
