Court Acquits Aliyu Abubakar, Malabu Oil in EFCC Money-Laundering Cases
Aliyu Abubakar and Malabu Oil have been acquitted in two EFCC cases
A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted businessman Aliyu Abubakar, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and other defendants in two money-laundering cases brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the rulings on Thursday, 15 October 2026, finding that the prosecution had failed to establish its allegations to the required legal standard. The court also questioned the decision to continue one of the cases despite an earlier directive from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The decisions mark a significant development in the domestic legal proceedings connected to Malabu Oil and the disputed Oil Prospecting Licence 245 (OPL 245) transaction.
Court Finds Weaknesses in Prosecution Evidence
In the case against Abubakar, the court found that evidence presented by a prosecution witness was legally insufficient to establish the allegations. A key issue concerned forensic analysis of specimen signatures, which the witness acknowledged had been conducted using photocopies rather than original documents.
Justice Ekwo held that the evidential shortcomings undermined the prosecution’s case and that the allegations had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The court consequently discharged and acquitted Abubakar.
The ruling underscores the requirement for criminal allegations to be supported by credible, admissible evidence. The seriousness of an allegation does not remove the prosecution’s responsibility to establish the elements of an offence to the standard required by law.
Court Questions Decision to Proceed Despite AGF Directive
In the separate proceedings involving Malabu Oil and other corporate defendants, the court considered an earlier communication from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Ekwo said the letter, received by the EFCC in September 2018, directed the prosecution to reconsider the case because the available material did not sufficiently link the defendants to the alleged offences. The EFCC subsequently proceeded with the charges in December that year.
The judge held that the prosecution had erred by continuing despite the Attorney-General’s advice, stressing the legal authority of the office in prosecutorial matters. The court also questioned the use of evidence obtained while proceedings were already pending.
The decision highlights the importance of coordination between law-enforcement agencies and the government’s principal legal authority, particularly where questions arise about the evidential basis for criminal charges.
OPL 245 Case Remains a Major Legal Controversy
The proceedings form part of the broader legal history surrounding OPL 245, an offshore oil block whose transaction has attracted years of scrutiny and litigation.
The EFCC’s allegations involved claims of money laundering and conspiracy connected to the management and transfer of funds associated with Malabu Oil. The defendants denied the charges.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke, who had previously faced charges alongside Abubakar in related proceedings, was discharged after the court upheld his no-case submission in 2024.
The latest decisions concern separate proceedings and should not be taken to determine every dispute or legal issue associated with OPL 245. The oil block has been the subject of other proceedings, and the outcome of one case does not automatically resolve matters before other courts or authorities.
Implications for Anti-Corruption Prosecution
The acquittals put the quality of evidence gathering and case preparation back in focus. For anti-corruption agencies, cases involving complex corporate transactions and substantial financial flows require documentary evidence, reliable witness testimony and charges that can withstand legal scrutiny.
A failed prosecution does not, by itself, establish that every allegation was made in bad faith. However, judicial findings that evidence was insufficient or that proceedings should not have continued create important questions about how cases are assessed before charges are filed and pursued.
For the EFCC, the decisions reinforce the need to ensure that investigations produce admissible evidence and that prosecution strategies comply with applicable legal requirements. The credibility of anti-corruption enforcement depends not only on bringing cases but also on presenting evidence capable of sustaining them in court.
Legal Outcome Does Not End Every OPL 245 Dispute
The court’s rulings resolve the charges before it against the defendants covered by the judgments. They do not necessarily settle every commercial, regulatory or legal dispute connected to the oil block.
The broader significance lies in the court’s emphasis on evidential standards and prosecutorial authority. As Nigeria continues to pursue financial-crime cases involving major business transactions, the ability of enforcement agencies to build legally sound cases remains central to public confidence in the justice system.
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