Oyo-Ita Acquitted of Money Laundering Charges by Court

Winifred Oyo-Ita, the former Head of Service of the Federation, was acquitted of 18 counts of money laundering amounting to N570 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 28, 2020. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish a prima facie case against her.

The court described the EFCC's case as built on "quicksand" and based on speculation and suspicion, noting that the prosecution could not prove any unlawful activities related to travel expenses. Justice Omotosho highlighted that Oyo-Ita was neither a director nor a shareholder in the companies allegedly linked to the funds.

The judge also pointed out the lack of documentary evidence from the prosecution and noted that there were no administrative queries or disciplinary actions against Oyo-Ita. The ruling emphasized the need for the EFCC to conduct thorough investigations before filing charges.