Former senate president, Adolphus Wabara, and two others have been discharged and acquitted of allegations of bribe for budget levelled against them by the federal government.
The two others are Ibrahim Abdulazeez and John Azuta Mbata, former senators.
The acquittal is coming 14 years after the suit was filed.
In his ruling, Justice S.E Aladetoyinbo, of an Abuja High Court said the suit lacked witnesses to prosecute the charge.
He, therefore, discharged the defendants under section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
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According to the trial judge, prosecutors in the matter, which has been pending since 2005 could not produce witnesses to prosecute the case.
Counsel to the defendants had urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which states as follows: “Where a complainant at any time before a final order is made in a case satisfies the court that there are sufficient grounds for permitting him to withdraw his complaint, the court may permit him to withdraw the complaint and shall thereupon acquit the defendant.”
The judge therefore ruled that “Since the prosecutor claimed that the witnesses are no more available and this matter had been pending since 2005, the court will grant the request of defence counsel. The three Defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.”
