By Ken Afor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lost its case against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosun, alongside two others whom they accused of laundering N21.5 billion while in service.
The case against the former Air Chief was dismissed on Tuesday by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
It would be recalled that in June 2016, Amosun, alongside a former Nigeria Air Force Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga, were arraigned by the anti-graft agency on a 26-count charge before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
The charge was, however, amended, and it was reduced to a 13-count charge with suit number FHC/L/280C/16.
They were accused of allegedly conspiring and diverting the sum of N21.5 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for their personal use.
Justice Aneke dismissed the charge brought against the defendants, affirming a subsequent objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to address the case on the grounds that the defendants were still serving officers of the military at the time.
According to the defense counsel, the matter ought to be entertained by a court-martial since they were still in service during the period.
In response to the argument by the defence council, the Judge held that, “As officers of the armed forces, they ought to have been first investigated by the armed forces and tried rather than charging them before this court.”
The judge ruled that the investigation of Amosun dated January 30, 2015, was null and void, and he dismissed the amended charges against the defendants.
