Forum urges EFCC to drop case against EX-AGF, Adoke over new revelations
TJustice and Equity Forum (JEF) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to withdraw its case against former Attorney-general of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) in the light of new revelations at the ongoing OPL 245/Malabu trials in Milan, Italy.
In a statement signed by the co-conveners, Alhaji Idris Kainji and Comrade Adebowale Peters, the civil rights organisation also said that in the money laundering case filed against Adoke at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the EFCC, “there is not a single mention of OPL 245 and Malabu in the court
papers and this must be considered curious under any circumstance”.
The Forum, however, commended Mr Ibrahim Magu, the EFCC chairman, for the progress Nigeria has recorded in the anti-graft war under his watch and urged support and encouragement of Nigerians on him.
The group said: “On Wednesday, the 17th of July, in Milan, Italy, Mr. Vincenzo Armanna, the former ENI manager who is standing trial over the Malabu scandal, told the court that Adoke warned ENI officials against discussing kickbacks and threatened them with arrest. This is the same Adoke that is being accused of collecting kickback from the deal. That doesn’t add up at all.
“We also note that on Thursday, 27th of June, Mr. Ednan Tofik ogly Agaev, a former Russian diplomat who is also being tried over the scandal, told the Italian court that he was pressured under interrogation by the FBI to mention Adoke’s name as one of the recipients of the bribes reportedly paid to government officials in the deal. In fact, Agaev refused to adopt the FBI interview in court because, according to him, he did not mean for it to be used. He effectively confessed making a false accusation against Adoke. In a court of law, this will certainly kill the case except there is anything else to it.”