From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
A Federal High Court sitting in Gasau, Zamfara state, has discharged and acquitted the Chairman, Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Murtala Adamu Jangebe, of a 10 count charges bordering on corruption and money laundering.
The suit was instituted against him in 2015, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had alleged that Mr. Jangebe who is a former two-term House of Assembly member in the State was involved in corruption practise while investigating the operation and financial activities of the board.
In her judgment, Justice Zainab Abubakar discharged and acquitted him on the 10-count corruption charge levelled against him, citing that some changes were null and void while others lack of evidence beyond reasonable doubts for criminal prosecution.
Justice Abubakar held that counts 1 to 5 of the and cannot be sustained since the charges under section 15 (2) (a) and (d) of the money laundering act have been expunged in Money laundering amendment act 2012.
The Judge also held that conviction can only be made where an offence is defined and penalty prescribed in a written law.
The Judge maintained that Count 6 and 7 was struck out on the basis that the contradiction in the oral testimony before the court and his written statements before the EFCC renders the witness unreliable in the eyes of the law.
With no evidence beyond trading, the Judge stroke out counts 8, 9 and 10 for lack of evidence beyond reasonable doubts a necessary requirement for criminal prosecution.
The court however slammed a fine of N200,000.00 on the defendant for engaging in private business while still in Public Service.
Justice Abubakar remarked thus; "I am not convicting the defendant for corruption but for engaging in private business".
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