The Court of Appeal, Yola Division, has upheld the judgment of the Yola High Court, which discharged and acquitted former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Jonathan Sanda Lamurde, of fraud charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed an appeal against Lamurde after he was cleared by the lower court of allegations involving the diversion of N700 million meant for relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Lamurde, who served under former Governor Bala James Nggilari, was arraigned on a 21-count charge, including conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery.
However, the trial court presided over by former Chief Judge Nathan Musa, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC sought a reversal of the acquittal and a guilty verdict, urging the appellate court to convict and sentence the former commissioner.
Delivering judgment, Justice O. A. Adeghehin dismissed the EFCC’s appeal for lack of evidence and upheld the earlier verdict, reaffirming Lamurde’s acquittal.
