The federal high court in Abuja has discharged former Minister of Interior Senator Abba Moro from the criminal charges brought against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court held that the anti graft agency failed to establish ingredients of fraud that could link the law maker with the alleged offense
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba while delivering his ruling in a no case submission discharged and aquited Dretex Tec Nigeria limited and its owner Alhaji Ahmadu Mohammed from the entire charges.
Dretex was a private information communication technology company used by the ministry of interior under Abba Moro to carry out the 2013 recruitment exercise that brought about the criminal trial.
Justice Dimgba while discharging the former minister from the alleged fraud aspect of the recruitment exercise however ordered him to defend himself on the public procurement aspect of the charges.
The judge held that although the company used for the recruitment has been discharged and acquitted, Senator Moro will have to defend himself on the preparations put in place before the ministry of interior embarked on the recruitment exercise.
Justice Dimgba further said that the fact that human lives were lost and injuries sustained during the stampede made imperative for the defendant to offer explanations on the preparations employed.
The court therefore fixed October 29th and 30th for the defendant to open his defence.
