Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the N1.84 billion money laundering charges brought by the Federal Government against Colonel Nicholas Ashinze (rtd), a former Military Assistant to Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and eight others.
Dasuki was a former National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The 13-point charges were thrown out without Justice Abang acquitting the accused following its withdrawal by the Attorney General of the Federation AGF after seven years of trial.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had discharged the defendants from criminal charges which is tantamount to acquittal from the same charges.
Justice Abang said no court of law can question the exercise of AGF’s powers, under Section 174 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to take over or terminate any matter before any court of law.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr David Kaswe had applied for withdrawal of the charges apparently acting on the instructions of the AGF, Malam Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Ashinze (1st defendant) was standing trial alongside an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl; Edidiong Idiong and Sagir Mohammed were listed as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.
Other defendants in the case are five companies: Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organisation, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Service Limited listed as 5th to 9th defendants respectively.
They were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 13-count money laundering charge.
The amended charge, dated October 3, 2017, was filed in October. 6, 2017.
