Court Grants Bail to ex-AGF Accused of $2.3m Money Laundering
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, permission to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to visit his family.
Adoke is on trial with Aliyu Abubakar, a property developer, for alleged money laundering amounting to N300 million.
Adoke’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, invoked sections 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution, requesting permission for the ex-AGF to travel and meet his family.
He explained that he had been unable to visit his family in the UAE since the start of the trial. Agabi argued that spending time with his family was crucial for Adoke’s physical and mental health and urged the court to grant his request.
He emphasized that Adoke had consistently attended all court proceedings since being granted bail and showed no intention to flee.
In his ruling, Inyang Ekwo acknowledged Adoke’s consistent court attendance and lack of flight risk and granted his travel request.
The judge ordered the release of Adoke’s passport, deposited at the court registry, to facilitate his travel to the UAE.
The EFCC accused Adoke, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, from April 6, 2010- May 29, 2015, under former President Goodluck Jonathan, of making a cash payment of over two million ($2,267,400) to Unity Bank in 2013, violating money laundering laws.
The anti-graft agency claimed he exchanged the money at a bureau de change in Abuja as part of his share of the controversial $1.1 billion Malabu Oil deal.
According to the charge, Adoke collected the sum of $2,267,400 on September 16, 2013, and immediately got money changers to convert it to naira.
Based on the prevailing exchange rate, Adoke made N345.2 million after converting the funds. He subsequently deposited the money into a Unity Bank account to offset an outstanding overdraft of N300 million.
