The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of appeal against the judgement of a Federal High Court in Lagos acquitting and discharging the former Senior Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, of N1.6 billion fraud charges.
Justice Mohammed Idris, in his judgement on Thursday, had also set free a member of staff of Heritage Bank, Joseph Iwuejo, who was named in the charge.
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EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, on Friday filed a notice of appeal against the judgement on nine grounds pursuant to Section 241 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the notice, Justice Idris was said to have failed to bind himself with the age-long principle of law which provides that conspiracy is complete upon agreement.
Idris had ruled that the EFCC failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubts.
The judge said the failure of the EFCC to call key witnesses like Mr Jonathan, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, among others, contributed in the commission’s inability to prove its case.
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He also said EFCC built its case on suspicion which was not enough to secure conviction.
According to him, the EFCC did not conclude investigation before rushing to court.
The EFCC, however, is seeking an order of the court convicting the respondents as charged and sentencing them as prescribed by the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended and the EFCC Act of 2004.
