Jonathan and his former aide, Dufada are both criminals

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has berated the Federal High Court in Lagos for clearing ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s former aide, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, of the N1.6bn fraud charges against him.

Following the decision of the Justice Mohammed Idris to free Dudafa and his co-defendant, Joseph Iwuejo, the EFCC has approached the Court of Appeal, seeking the reversal of the verdict.

Justice Idris had held that the anti-graft agency failed to prove the charges because it failed to call vital witnesses, which could have helped it to prove the charges.

According to him, EFCC have refused to call, included Jonathan, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and one Somprei Omeibi.

But in its appeal, the EFCC said it could not have called Jonathan, CBN governor, Dasuki and Omeibi as witnesses to prove the charges against Dudafa because they “were, at best, particeps criminis (partner in crime) in the scheme of the fraud contained in the charge.”

The EFCC also argued that Justice Idris refused to attach any probative value to the statements made by Dudafa and Iwuejo while being interrogated by investigators.

In the appeal filed on Friday, the EFCC told the Court of Appeal that Justice Idris “erred in law and occasioned serious miscarriage of justice” in setting Dudafa and Iwuejo free.

It, therefore, urged the Court of Appeal to convict them and to impose upon them the sentence prescribed by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.