The Court of Appeal Yola Division on Thursday, affirmed the judgement of Yola High Court which discharged and acquitted former Commissioner Ministry of Finance, Hon. Jonathan Sanda Lamurde. News Platform
The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed against Hon. Sanda Lamurde, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and upheld the judgement of the lower court.
Hon. Lamurde, former Commissioner of Finance during Governor Bala James Nggilari administration was earlier arraigned before High presided by former Chief Judge, Nathan Musa, for allegedly diverting the whooping N700million.
He was arraigned on 21 count charge of conspiracy, breach of trust and diverting funds to the tune on N700m meant for the procurement of relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He was tried for criminal breach of trust, forgery and using as genuine false documents, all contrary to section 306, 350 and 353 respectively of the penal code law of Adamawa state.
In his judgement, the former CJ discharged and acquitted him for lack of evidence, saying that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Not satisfied with the judgement, the EFCC filed appeal and sought for an order allowing the appeal and set aside the decision/ judgement of the trial court.
It also sought for an order entering a verdict of guilty and consequently conviction upon the proper appraisal and evaluation of the evidence against the respondent/accused.
Equally, it asked the appeal court to sentence the former Commissioner as appropriate on all the counts charge upon which he was tried.
Delivering his judgement on the case, the appeal court judge, Hon. Justice O. A. Adeghehin, dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgement of the lower court for want of evidence.
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