Court frees ex-HOS Oyo-Ita in N570m money laundering case

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday discharged and acquitted former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, of alleged N570m money laundering charges filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, upheld the no-case submissions filed by Oyo-Ita and eight co-defendants, holding that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against them after about six years of trial.

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“The case presented by the prosecution has no weight whatsoever,” the judge ruled.

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Justice Omotosho described the anti-graft agency’s case as one “built on the quicksand of speculations, suspicions and shoddy investigation.”

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He added that the prosecution failed to establish the predicate offences required to prove money laundering allegations.

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“Crucial elements of money laundering offences, which are the establishment of a predicate offence, were glaringly absent in this case presented by the prosecution,” he said.

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The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove that funds allegedly traced to Oyo-Ita were proceeds of unlawful activities.

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According to him, evidence before the court showed that contracts linked to the allegations were duly approved and executed.

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He also held that estacodes, duty tour allowances and air tickets allegedly received by Oyo-Ita were properly approved.

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“There is no proof before the court that estacodes or duty allowances were approved and subsequently collected without the corresponding trips being undertaken,” the judge said.

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He faulted the prosecution for failing to tender travel approvals, official memos, audit queries or other documentary evidence to support its allegations.

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“The prosecution has, in effect, invited the court to engage in speculation,” he added.

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Justice Omotosho further held that Oyo-Ita was neither a director nor shareholder in the companies allegedly linked to the transactions under investigation.

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“The prosecution did not provide any shred of evidence to show that the monies are tainted with illegality,” the judge ruled.

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He subsequently upheld the no-case submissions filed by all the defendants and discharged and acquitted them on the 18-count charge.

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The EFCC had arraigned Oyo-Ita and others in March 2020 over allegations bordering on fraud involving duty tour allowances, estacodes and contract kickbacks amounting to about N570m.

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During the trial, the commission called eight witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits.

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However, the defendants argued that the prosecution failed to establish any ingredient of the offences to warrant them entering a defence.

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Justice Omotosho also rejected confessional statements allegedly obtained from Oyo-Ita and some co-defendants, ruling that they were not obtained in compliance with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

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He held that the prosecution failed to produce video recordings of the statement-taking sessions as required by law and consequently expunged the statements from evidence.

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Oyo-Ita was removed from office by the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2019, amid corruption allegations.

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