EFCC Denies Dropping Charges Against Ex-Minister Of Justice

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Friday denied dropping charges against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

EFCC’s spokesman Dele Oyewale said in a statement .

There were media reports lately about the removal of Adoke’s name from the “Wanted Persons’ List” by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) which had made many to insinuate that criminal charges against the nation’s chief law officer had been dropped.

The anti-graft agency said Adoke is already in Nigeria and on trial, adding that somebody who is on trial and not allowed to step out of jurisdiction of the court would at the same time be on Wanted List.

In a statement by EFCC spokesperson, the anti-graft agency said “The EFCC wishes to make it abundantly clear that, Mr Adoke is standing trial in two separate courts: Federal High Court, Abuja before Justice Inyang Ekwo in Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CR/39/2017 and FCT High Court, Gwagwalada before Justice Idris Kutigi in Suit Number: FCT/CR/151/2020.

“He was re-arraigned alongside an Abuja-based businessman, Aliyu Abubakar before Justice Ekwo on June 17, 2020, on seven-count charge, bordering on money laundering.

“The re-arraignment was occasioned by the transfer of the case from Justice Binta Nyako, before whom he was originally arraigned on February 8, 2020.

“Adoke was equally arraigned before Justice Kutigi alongside others on January 23, 2020, on 42-count charges bordering on the Malabu Oil scam

“There is another subsisting case involving Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, Aliyu Abubakar and five companies allegedly involved in money laundering charges before Justice Ekwo.

“They were arraigned on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CR/268/2016”

Oyewale noted that media reports about the removal of Adoke’s name from the “Wanted Persons’ List” by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), are unnecessary and misleading since he had been arrested and facing trial already in Nigeria.

“A suspect cannot be on a “Wanted Persons’ List” and be facing trial in court at the same time

“The EFCC wishes to reiterate its commitment to global best practices in its operations and would not be distracted from its assigned mandate of ridding the nation of all forms of economic and financial crimes,” he added.