EFCC Prosecutor Denies Bribery Allegations in OPL 245 Trial, Citing Lack of Evidence

Offem Uket, the prosecutor in the OPL 245 case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has vehemently denied allegations of receiving bribes to compromise the trial.

In a recent ruling on March 28, Judge Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, upheld the no-case submission by the defendants, leading to the dismissal of charges. The judge criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its four-year pursuit of the case without substantial evidence.

Following the ruling, online reports surfaced claiming that the EFCC had terminated the employment of its prosecutor over alleged bribery involving Adoke and Wole Olanipekun, the lead counsel representing Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant.

However, the EFCC refuted these claims, with spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissing them as the work of “mischief makers.”

Reacting to the allegations, Uket released a statement asserting his commitment to ethical and professional standards in handling the case. He denied ever accepting bribes and emphasized his dedication to upholding integrity throughout his tenure at the EFCC.

Uket clarified that he took over the case in 2022 after the previous prosecutor’s departure, and diligently presented evidence before the court. Despite his efforts, he acknowledged the lack of sufficient evidence to support certain counts in the charges.

Regarding his employment status, Uket clarified that he voluntarily chose not to renew his contract with the EFCC, dispelling rumors of termination.

He condemned the online publication for tarnishing his reputation without seeking his side of the story and demanded a retraction and apology.

In conclusion, Uket reiterated his commitment to prosecuting cases ethically and professionally, asserting that winning a case is a prosecutor’s aim, but not at the expense of lacking evidence.