EFCC denies Malabu case bribery allegations, considers appeal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has refuted news making the rounds that one of its prosecutors was offered a bribe over the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case leading to the dismissal of the charges against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke, and others by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The anti-graft agency disclosed that it has com­menced a review of devel­opments around the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case, includ­ing the dismissal of the charges against Bello Adoke and others by the Court in Abuja.

The review, the EFCC hinted, would entail explora­tion of the option of appeal and possible change of coun­sel in view of the Commis­sion’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by Offem Uket.

Speaking on the alleged bribing of its official, the EFCC says, its intention to review or appeal the case “has no nexus whatsoever to the spew of speculations im­puting compromise by par­ties to the charge, currently making the rounds in some sections of the media.”

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Recall that after the de­cision of the Abuja High Court upholding the no-case submission of the defendants in the criminal case, a cer­tain online news outfit had spewed the narrative suggest­ing that the EFCC accused its prosecutor of compromise by prominent lawyers connect­ed to the case.

In denying the narrative of compromise, the anti-cor­ruption agency further said, “EFCC is not obliged to em­brace such narratives as it neither accused any of the parties of any unsavoury conduct nor made any con­clusive statements about any investigation on the matter.”

The agency also dubbed allegations of compromise as “effusions of mischief makers” and urged the gen­eral public to await its next course of actions.

The clarification by the anti-crime agency was made by a statement posted on its website and its social media handles.