Justice Silvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Apo on Tuesday found former Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Sunday Ehindero and Commissioner of Police budget, John Obaniyi, not guilty of the N16.4 million fraud charge preferred against them.
Holding that the prosecution failed to make a prima facie case, the judge discharged the duo.
According to the court, the prosecution failed to prove that the defendants converted the said interest generated to their personal use.
“I therefore uphold the no case submission. The defendants are hereby discharged” he said.
Justice Ekwo further held that the investigation officer did not discredit the claim of the defendants to prove that the money was not used for operational purpose.
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Counsel to Ehindero, Kelvin Omoraw, and Samuel Odariko representing Obaniyi had filed a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case on May 8, after calling four witnesses.
Recall that Ehindero and Obaniyi, were arraigned on May 10, 2018 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
They were accused of misusing the sum of N557 million donated by the Bayelsa Government to the Nigerian Police Force to purchase arms and ammunition, by were diverting same into separate accounts belonging to them.
ICPC further alleged that the defendants conspired and used their positions to place N500million, part of N557 million donated by the Bayelsa Government in two fixed deposit accounts which yielded N16.4 million interest, which they were allegedly to have used for personal interests.
