The Federal Government had preferred the nine counts of theft against Abacha in February 2014.
The prosecution accused Abacha of unlawfully receiving about N446.3bn allegedly stolen from government's coffers between 1995 and 1998.
But Adoke, acting for the Federal Government, on Wednesday, asked Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on the grounds of "fresh facts" that just emerged concerning the case.
Efforts to arraign Abacha on two previous occasions were unsuccessful because of his repeated absence from court.
But he was present in court on Wednesday when the private prosecuting counsel, Mr. Daniel Enwelum, informed the court of Adoke's instruction to discontinue the case.
Applying to court for the withdrawal of the case, Enwelum said, "I have been instructed by the AGF and Minister of Justice to withdraw the charges as presently filed before this court, because there are fresh facts and documents available to him.
"In this circumstance, he instructed me to file a notice of withdrawal without prejudice to future cause of action to be taken by his (AGF's) office.
"In the light of that, I have filed a notice of withdrawal dated June 17, 2014. I humbly apply to withdraw the charges accordingly."
Abacha's lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, did not oppose the application for withdrawal.
Justice Kolo subsequently, in a ruling on the application, made an order striking out the charges against the accused person.
In the nine counts, the Federal Government accused Abacha of "dishonestly receiving stolen property" and "voluntarily assisted in concealing money".
The charge replaced a previous one of 121 counts, in which Mohammed was charged with Atiku Bagudu. The government has now excluded Bagudu from the fresh charge, leaving only Mohammed.
According to the new charge, marked CR.21-24/2008, the stolen money allegedly received by Abacha, which he was accused of concealing included 141,100,000 and $384,353,000 made up of cash and travellers cheques.
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Goverment magic... It's obviouse dat d FG Is winning war against curruption. Yeye pple
ReplyDeleteOver 400 billon just like that? And you wonder why they call us a corrupt failed state facing terror and total collapse or even full scale civil war. The inevitable will happen to this country and we will see how these looting demons and their conspirators enjoy their god like lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteGEJ the secreet to win war against boko haram is to first win war against looting and corruption because that is the source of boko haram finance.
ReplyDeletena wa 4 dz our country 9ja,is jst because abacha's son is a member of pdp nw dat is why FG is wedrowing d case.may god punish dis so colled pdp government.
ReplyDeleteSo Mr President you want to win Kano by all cost hmmmm diariss God oooo. Oloriburuku GEJ, dump ass fool.
ReplyDeleteUk court will find him guilty tomorrow
ReplyDelete