Supreme Court rules in favour of Dr Abdu Bulama, four others against EFCC
In a landmark judgement on Thursday, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled in favour of former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama and four others, who were accused of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court affirmed the discharge and acquittal of the defendants, which include Muhammad Kadai, Abba Tata, Honourable Hassan Ibn Jaks and Mamu Muhammad, and declared as nullity the order of the Court of Appeal in Gombe, which had ordered their retrial.
The case dates back to 2014, when the EFCC filed charges against the defendants, alleging that they had conspired to launder N450 million from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the 2015 general elections.
The Federal High Court in Damaturu had discharged and acquitted the defendants in 2018, but the EFCC appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal in Gombe, which reversed the decision of the lower court and ordered a retrial in 2020.
However, the defendants challenged the ruling of the appellate court at the Supreme Court, arguing that it was a violation of their constitutional right to fair hearing and a breach of the principle of double jeopardy.
The Supreme Court agreed with their submissions and set aside the judgement and order of the Court of Appeal, thereby putting an end to the legal battle that had lasted for nine years.