The decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja that exonerated and acquitted Air Marshal Mohammed Umar of an N66 million money laundering charge has been overturned by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
The three-judge panel, chaired by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, reversed the Federal High Court's decision in a unanimous decision and mandated that the defendant proceed with his defence on counts 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against the former Air Chief on one count related to money laundering for allegedly stealing $66.6 million from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) account between 2010 and 2012.
The prosecution was found to have failed to present any proof that Umar gave the order for the transfer of the aforementioned money for the repair of his private residence in Abuja, according to Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court's judgement.
Following a no-case submission, he had dismissed six of the seven counts brought by the EFCC against Umar.
He believed that assuming Umar must be informed of every financial transaction from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force would be risky.
The EFCC filed an appeal of the decision after being dissatisfied with Umar's acquittal, requesting that the Court of Appeal nullify the Federal High Court's decision.