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By Correspondent in Abuja.
Mrs.Winifred Oyo-Ita,
(C) Biographical.
After six years of intense legal battle, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday discharged and acquitted former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, of an alleged N570 million money laundering case.
In a detailed ruling, Justice James Omotosho upheld the no-case submissions filed by Oyo-Ita and eight other defendants, declaring that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
The judge delivered a scathing verdict on the prosecution led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing its case as one “built on speculation, suspicion and shoddy investigation.”
Oyo-Ita, alongside her Personal Assistant, Ubong Effiok, and seven others, had been standing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, estacode and duty tour allowance abuses, and kickbacks on contracts amounting to N570 million.
But Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to prove any of the essential ingredients of money laundering, particularly the existence of a predicate offence.
“The case presented by the prosecution has no weight whatsoever,” the judge held, stressing that criminal allegations must be supported by credible evidence and not conjecture.
The court found that there was no proof that the funds in question were proceeds of illegal activities.
It further held that Oyo-Ita was neither a director nor shareholder in the companies allegedly linked to her, weakening the prosecution’s claims of financial misconduct.
On allegations relating to estacodes and duty tour allowances, the judge noted glaring gaps in evidence, including the absence of travel records, approvals, and any official complaints from relevant government agencies.
He observed that the prosecution failed to provide documents such as travel authorisations, memos, or audit queries to substantiate claims that the former HoS received allowances for trips not undertaken.
“Criminal trials require credible proof, not suspicions,” the judge emphasised.
In a significant development, the court also expunged alleged confessional statements attributed to some of the defendants, ruling that they were obtained in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which requires video recording and legal representation during such processes.
Having found the prosecution’s evidence inadequate across all counts, the court upheld the no-case submissions and discharged all nine defendants.
The ruling marked a dramatic end to a case that began in 2020, when the EFCC arraigned Oyo-Ita and others over alleged financial improprieties linked to her time in public service.
Moments after the judgment, an emotional Oyo-Ita broke down in tears inside the courtroom, overwhelmed by relief as she was led out by supporters.
Her trial had followed her dismissal from office in 2019 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari amid corruption allegations.
The case also drew public attention due to its perceived political undertones, including her reported disagreement with former presidential Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, over the controversial reinstatement of ex-pension boss Abdulrasheed Maina.
With Tuesday’s verdict, the court has effectively closed one of Nigeria’s high-profile corruption trials, reinforcing the legal principle that suspicion alone cannot secure a conviction without concrete proof.
Edited by Dada Ahmed
