The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has dismissed all forgery-related charges brought against the Chairman of Cleanserve, Azubuike Ishiekwene, and the company’s Managing Director/CEO, Olalekan Abdul.
In a judgment delivered on January 30, 2025, Justice Mojisola Dada ruled that the case be struck out, and the defendants discharged and acquitted under Section 73 (1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2021.
The duo had initially been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 26 counts, including conspiracy, forgery, use of false documents, possession of fraudulent documents, stealing, and unauthorized document creation.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on January 30, 2020.
Throughout the trial, which spanned five years under suit number ID/11126C/2019, the EFCC presented nine witnesses, while the defence called four.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika and Muiz Banire, represented Abdul and Ishiekwene, respectively.
The defence later challenged the EFCC’s authority to prosecute under a Lagos State fiat, alleging misconduct by an EFCC operative who reportedly solicited a $20,000 bribe to drop the case.
The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN), took over the matter following a review.
Before that, the court ordered the recovery of the $20,000 from the EFCC’s custody and admitted it as evidence.
The bribery allegation, dating back to 2019, prompted a sting operation sanctioned by then-EFCC Secretary, Ola Olukoyede, leading to the operative’s arrest. After a further review, the Lagos State Attorney-General filed a notice of discontinuance under Section 211(1)(c) of the Constitution.
Although EFCC counsel Franklin Ofoma initially opposed the discontinuance, the agency later withdrew 20 of the 26 charges and filed amended charges in October 2024.
The last remaining count against Ishiekwene was eventually dropped, and he was fully discharged under Section 155 of the ACJL, 2021.
The amended charge targeted Abdul alone under federal law. However, before his re-arraignment, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), assumed control of the case and sought to discontinue the matter under Section 108 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
On March 5, 2025, Justice Dada formally discharged and acquitted both defendants.