The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, has discharged and acquitted former Senate president, Adolphus Wabara, and two others of allegations of bribery levelled against them by the federal government in 2005.
The court presided over by S.E Aladetoyinbo in its ruling seen by PREMIUM TIMES, said the prosecution lacked witnesses to prosecute the defendants: Mr Wabara, and the two other former senators, Ibrahim Abdulazeez and John Mbata.
Mr Aladetoyinbo, therefore, discharged the three defendants in pursuant to Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJA) Act 2015.
Meanwhile, two other defendants, Garba Matazu and a professor, Fabian Osuji, who were listed in the suit: FCT/HC/CR/31/2005 filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) were not present in the court when the trio were discharged.
According to Mr Aladetoyinbo, following four adjournments, the prosecutors in the matter, which has been pending since 2005 “could not raise witnesses to prosecute the case”.