SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, (THEWILL) – A High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and two others, of allegations of receiving bribe for budget approval levelled against them by the federal government, 14 years after the suit was filed.
The two other defendants who were set free by the court are Ibrahim Abdulazeez and John Azuta Mbata, also former senators.
In his ruling, S.E Aladetoyinbo, the presiding judge, said the suit lacks witnesses to prosecute the charge and therefore, discharged the defendants under section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Following the failure of the prosecution to produce witnesses, each of the counsels to the defendants urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“Since the prosecutor claimed that the witnesses are no more available and this matter had been pending since 2005, the court will grant the request of defence counsel. The three Defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015,” he ruled.
