Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday said that a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, has a case to answer over two charges of fraud involving $40m, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.
The judge therefore dismissed a no-case submission filed by the defendants and ordered Azibaola and his company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, to enter their defence.
The court held that while the EFCC had led sufficient evidence linking Azibaola and the company to the charges but said it failed to connect the wife, Stella to the two charges.
The judge said, “On the strength of the evidence adduced, I see no sufficient evidence linking the 2nd defendant (Stella) to counts 2 and 3.
“I therefore accordingly discharge and acquit the 2nd defendant of counts 2 and 3.
“I hold that there is sufficient prima facie case against the 1st and the 3rd defendants.
“The no case-submission on these counts fails in relation to them and I therefore accordingly direct the 1st and 3rd defendants (Azibaola and One Plus to open their defence to counts 2 and 3.”
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