Court dismisses EFCC’s appeal against Jonathan’s cousin’s wife

The Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday dismissed an appeal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the acquittal of the wife of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Aziboala Roberts.

Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by the EFCC, Justice Stephen Adah held that the appeal had not been proved and lacked merit. The judge therefore upheld the judgment of the lower court. “It is therefore dismissed,” he said. The EFCC had in April 2016 charged Roberts, his company, One Plus Holding Ltd and his wife, Stella, with a nine-count charge of money laundering after they allegedly received $40 million from a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, for the supply of tactical communication kits.

But while ruling on a no case submission filed by the defence counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN) on March 29, 2018, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba discharged and acquitted Azibaola on counts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the charges, but ordered Roberts to enter defence in respect of counts 2 and 3.

The judge said the EFCC could not establish the offence of conspiracy and money laundering against the wife other than her being the wife of Roberts, adding that criminal liability is personal, not vicarious.

“In the eyes of the law, they are regarded as one and therefore legally disabled from committing conspiracy,” Justice Dimgba ruled.

Robert was himself acquitted and discharged by the court on May 27, 2019.