Court clears Bafarawa of N15bn fraud charge

From Raji Bello Sokoto

Justice Bello Abbas of Sokoto State High Court yesterday quashed a N15bn corruption case against former governor of Sokoto Stare, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and two three others.
The judge while delivering judgment submitted that all evidence presented before the court were not enough to convict the accused persons and have not proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Abbas also noted that the prosecutor (EFCC) have not shown the court that every ingredients of the count charges have been established before presenting them to the court.
“Evidence and records have not proved that the accused persons were guilty as charged and therefore should be acquitted.
“No sufficient and reliable evidence to probe that these accused persons were guilty. The court has found no merit in the allegations and therefore discharged and acquitted all the Accused persons.
“The only evident are those of the witnesses and written statements of the accused persons. Beside, those evident have not in any way shown that the accused really committed the offences they were been charged.
“The hearsays evidence is not a party to the case and is not acceptable to the court. The prosecutor has a burden duty to prove the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt,” The judge submitted.
The case was through a petition sent to EFCC, dated 18th April, 2008 and signed by the then Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Barrister Inuwa AbdukKadir.