Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday acquitted Abdullahi Babalele, Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, on charges of embezzlement of $140,000.
The court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) citing a lack of jurisdiction over the case.
He ruled that the case against the accused should not be taken to Lagos State as it was alleged to have taken place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The judge relied on the Supreme Court ruling in a case between the EFCC and Mohammed Dele Belgore on the same case.
Bibian Anekwe News understands that Babalele was indicted in 2018 and re-charged on October 8, 2019.
The EFCC has accused Babalele of giving former President Olusegun Obasanjo $140,000 on the orders of Abubakar who is seeking the presidency in 2019.
He denies any wrongdoing in any court proceedings.
In other news, The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of Mubarak Bala, who used his Facebook page to post articles deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Bala, president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was arrested in February at his home in Kaduna after lawyers filed a lawsuit accusing him of insulting the Prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page.
