A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Mohammed Bello Adoke, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), of money laundering charges.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, accepted Adoke’s “no case” submission in relation to the money laundering charges brought against him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed the charges against Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, in 2017, accusing them of laundering approximately N300 million.

During the proceedings, the EFCC acknowledged before Justice Ekwo that the funds in question were actually a mortgage obtained by Adoke from Unity Bank. However, the EFCC had previously alleged before Justice Kutigi that the money was a bribe linked to the sale of an oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.

On March 28, 2024, Justice Kutigi dismissed the charges against Adoke and other defendants, highlighting the inconsistency in the EFCC’s claims and criticizing the agency for wasting the court’s time for four years.

In the recent ruling, Justice Ekwo determined that the EFCC had failed to present any evidence to substantiate the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, the primary defendant. Consequently, the judge upheld the no-case submission, resulting in Adoke’s discharge and acquittal of the charges.

However, Justice Ekwo ruled that the second defendant, Abubakar Aliyu, must present his defense as he has a case to answer.