Court Discharges, Acquits Former Attorney-General Adoke In Malabu Oil Trial

Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, has dismissed the charges of fraud, bribery, and conspiracy filed against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ruling on the no-case submission made by Adoke, Justice Kutigi declared that the EFCC had failed to substantiate its allegations of fraud, bribery, and money laundering, consequently ruling that the defendant had no case to answer. Consequently, Adoke has been discharged and acquitted on all counts.

The judge specifically noted that the allegation of illegal tax waivers granted to Shell and Eni lacked corroboration from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or any other authority. Additionally, regarding the alleged N300 million bribe purportedly given to Adoke by Aliyu Abubakar, the court ruled that the EFCC failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its case.

While the EFCC conceded its lack of adequate evidence to oppose Adoke’s no-case application, it maintained that Rasky Gbinigie, co-defendant in the case, still had a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents related to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd.

This legal saga dates back to January 15, 2020, when Adoke, alongside other defendants including Aliyu Abubakar and Rasky Gbinije of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), was charged by the EFCC before the FCT High Court in Abuja.

The charges against Adoke included allegations of collecting a gratification of N300 million from Abubakar in connection with the OPL 245 resolution, conspiring to commit offenses related to public servant disobedience of the law, and knowingly disobeying legal directives to shield certain companies from tax charges.

Adoke vehemently denied all allegations against him.

It’s worth noting that another case against Adoke and Abubakar is pending before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although unrelated to the OPL 245 transaction, similar accusations have been leveled against them by the EFCC, with Adoke also filing a no-case submission. However, Justice Ekwo is yet to deliver his ruling in this matter.