The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, of alleged N570 million fraud and money laundering charges brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, trial judge James Omotosho upheld the no-case submission filed by Oyo-Ita and eight co-defendants, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case after about six years of trial.
“The case presented by the prosecution has no weight whatsoever,” the judge declared.
Justice Omotosho criticised the EFCC’s investigation, describing it as weak and speculative. According to him, the charges were “built on the quicksand of suspicions and inadequate investigation,” lacking the essential elements required to prove money laundering.
He emphasised that the prosecution failed to establish any underlying criminal activity that could justify the allegations.
“Key ingredients of the alleged offences, particularly the existence of a predicate offence, were completely missing from the case,” he said.
The court further held that there was no evidence showing that funds linked to the former Head of Service were proceeds of unlawful activities. It noted that contracts referenced in the allegations were properly authorised and executed.
On allowances and travel-related claims, the judge ruled that payments such as estacodes, duty tour allowances, and flight tickets were duly approved.
“There is no proof before the court that these allowances were collected without the corresponding official trips being undertaken,” Omotosho stated.
He also faulted the anti-graft agency for failing to present critical documents, including travel approvals, memos, and audit reports, to support its claims.
“The prosecution has, in effect, invited the court to engage in speculation,” he added.
The judge further ruled that Oyo-Ita had no ownership or directorship ties to companies allegedly linked to the transactions under investigation, weakening the prosecution’s claims.
In addition, the court rejected confessional statements said to have been obtained from the defendants, ruling that they did not comply with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
“The absence of video evidence of how the statements were obtained renders them inadmissible,” the judge held, ordering that they be expunged from the court record.
Following the ruling, the court discharged and acquitted Oyo-Ita and her co-defendants on all 18 counts.
The EFCC had arraigned the former Head of Service in March 2020 over allegations involving duty tour allowances, estacodes, and contract-related payments amounting to about N570 million.
Oyo-Ita was removed from office in 2019 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari amid the corruption allegations.
