Graft Charge: Federal Judge Frees Bankole, Nafada

SAN FRANCISCO, January 31, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Suleiman Belgore has dramatically ruled that former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and his erstwhile deputy, Rt. Hon Usman Nafada are innocent of the graft charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Belgore in a Tuesday judgement ruled that the duo did not conspire to steal state funds as alleged by the EFCC in the N40 billion contract scam. He said the evidence brought forward by the EFCC in the suit was insufficient to prove that the men committed any crimes. He therefore ruled that they have no case to answer.

Today’s ruling followed a no-case-application by Bankole and Nafada through their lawyers seeking to have the graft related charges quashed on the grounds that the EFCC had not submitted sufficient evidence to prosecute the former top officers who were first arraigned in June 2011, on counts relating to graft and criminal breach of trust amongst others.