A high court in Abuja has
discharged and acquitted Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and two
others of allegations of bribe for budget levelled against them by the federal
government.
The two others who were set free
by the court include are Ibrahim Abdulazeez and John Azuta Mbata, former
senators.
The development comes 14 years
after the suit was filed.
In his ruling, S.E Aladetoyinbo,
the presiding judge, said the suit lacks witnesses to prosecute the charge.
He, therefore, discharged the
defendants under section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
2015.
Two other defendants who were
listed in the suit, Garba Matazu, a former house of reps member, and Fabian
Osuji, minister of education, at the time.
The duo were not present in the
court, in a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the trial judge,
prosecutors in the matter, which has been pending since 2005 could not raise
witnesses to prosecute the case.
He said following the failure of
the prosecutor to produce witnesses, each of the counsels to the defendants
also urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants under Section 355
of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which states as follows:
“Where a complainant at any time before a final order is made in a case
satisfies the court that there are sufficient grounds for permitting him to
withdraw his complaint, the court may permit him to withdraw the
complaint and shall thereupon acquit the defendant.”
“Since the prosecutor claimed
that the witnesses are no more available and this matter had been pending since
2005, the court will grant the request of defence counsel. The three Defendants
are hereby discharged and acquitted under Section 355 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act 2015.”
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