The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal by Gabriel Daudu, a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly over his conviction on 77 counts of money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by its acting head of media and publicity, Mr Samin Amaddin.
Daudu, a former caretaker chairman of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, was first arraigned in April 2010.
He was prosecuted by the EFCC on 208 charges bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1.4billion.
Counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, fielded 13 witnesses and tendered 47 exhibits to prove the charges against the former lawmaker.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, had found him guilty of 77 counts and sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each count – to run concurrently.
Dissatisfied with his conviction, the former council boss through his counsel, Joseph Daudu, approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal asking it to reverse the judgment.
However, in a unanimous decision on March 1, 2017, the appellate court upheld the ruling of the lower court and dismissed the appeal for “lacking in merit.”
Still not satisfied, Daudu proceeded to the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to grant him a post-conviction bail pending the determination of the appeal before it.
The apex court on July 6, 2017, granted the convicted council boss bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum who must have landed property and be resident in the FCT.
In considering the main appeal, a panel of five justices of the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment today (Friday), however, resolved all the issues against the appellant (Daudu) and accordingly dismissed the appeal in its entirety.
Justice Kumai Akaahs who delivered the lead judgment described the appeal as “unmeritorious”.
Credit: Channels TV
