EFCC to appeal court verdict on Mallam el-Rufai
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Sunday decried two recent court decisions in which Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the former Minister of federal capital territory and Chief Olabode George were acquitted of various charges of corruption.
The anti graft agency however said it will appeal the court verdict on Mallam el-Rufai.
An Abuja High Court had last Friday set Mallam el-Rufai free on the charge of illegal conversion of land when he was Minister for which he has been on trial since 2008.
In the same vein, the Supreme Court also on Friday upturned the conviction of Bode George for which the former Peoples Democratic Party Deputy National Chairman and five others had served prison term.
In a statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its spokesperson, EFCC said it has noted with “concern” the two separate court decisions.
On the acquittal given Bode George and five others, the EFCC said: “Without going into the merit or otherwise of the Supreme court ruling, it is unfortunate that the apex court disagreed with the decision of the two lower courts- the Lagos High Court and the Court of Appeal- which upheld the conviction of the accused persons based on the evidence presented by the Commission.”
“While this turn of event is saddening, the Commission as a law abiding institution always respected judicial pronouncements and this will be no different.
“On El- Rufai and others, the trial judge, Justice Sadiq Umar believes the Commission failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused persons,” EFCC said of the acquittal of Mallam el-Rufai and two others by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.
“This is against the weight of the evidence presented by the Commission in court. Consequently, the EFCC has resolved to pursue an appeal against the ruling at the Court of Appeal,” the anti graft agency concluded.
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