*Convicts Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, Ex-Permanent Secretary

By Azuba Ndayako

A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Sen. Abba Moro and two others in charges of fraud over the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise in which 14 applicants died. 

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on Thursday held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish the allegation of procurement fraud against the defendants.

Moro, who was Minister of Interior at the time, was arraigned alongside former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia; an ex-director in the ministry, Felix Alayebami and a firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd,  which was acquitted and discharged in 2021.

They were accused of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering in the recruitment exercise which ended in tragedy with over 14 deaths caused by a stampede in some states.

Justice Dimgba dismissed the allegation of abuse of office against Moro over inadequate arrangement and safeguards for the exercise after 667,000 applicants paid N1,000 each.

He said the NIS-CG testified that there was inadequate funding for the exercise, while also failing to directly take charge of the exercise.

“I believe some flak must be reserved for the PW1 (David Paradang), who was the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.

Evaluating the submissions of the prosecution, Justice Dimgba said the Drexel’s proposal to conduct an e-recruitment was in national security interest due to allegations of nepotism and jobs racketeering in the previous exercises.

He said the prosecution failed to show that the failure to advertise the contract gave undue advantage to the company, Drexel.

However, the judge convicted Nwobia on one of the counts of the charges, but adjourned sentencing to April 27 in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.