COURT DISCHARGES CHIEF JOEL MADAKI OF N450 MONEY LAUNDERING

The Federal High Court Yola Division on Tuesday, discharged the former Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party(PDP), Adamawa State chapter, Chief Joel Madaki, of N450 million money laundering case against him.

The court presided by Hon. Justice A. M. Anka, discharged Chief Madaki, an Elders Statesman of all the 4 count charge boredering conspiracy and money laundering.

Meanwhile, the court has ordered Chief Felix Tangwami to prepare and enter his defence, saying prima facie was established.

Justice Anka, discharged Chief Joel Madaki, in his ruling on no case submission separately filed by Chief Joel Madaki and Chief Felix Tangwami, joined as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

He held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has failed woefully to establish prima facie case against Chief Madaki and discharged him accordingly.

The 1st and 2nd defendants in their separate no case submission dated the 17th and 31 October, 2022 respectively through their Counsels, A. T. Shehu and Sule J. Abul, urged the court to discharge them as no prima facie was established against them. 

The EFCC has arraigned the PDP Chieftains before the court on 4 count charge on the 4th December, 2018, where the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 4 count charge preferred against them.

It alleged that Chief Madaki and Amb. Hassan Adamu (now at large) sometimes in March 2015, at Yola, did conspire amongst themselves to accept cash payment of the sum N450 million.

It further alleged that the duo accept the money from One Abdulfatai Yunusa, of Fidelity Bank, Adamawa State, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law.

It averred that Chief Joel Madaki Amb. Hassan Adamu and Felix Tagwami sometimes in March 2015, in Yola, did conspire amongst themselves to make cash payment of the sum of N439, 940, 000).

According to EFCC, the defendants thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (amended) Act, 2012.

Reacting on the court's ruling, the PDP Chieftain, Chief Joel Madaki, said that some people conspired to trap him but God has vindicated him.

 

He said he had since forgiven anyone who planned anything evil against him, and thanked the judge for doing justice to the case, as well as his Lead Counsel, A. T Shehu, for his ensuring that justice is done.