The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Ishaq Kawu Modibbo, the former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and Pinnacle Communications Limited, in a case involving allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement related to the ₦2.5 billion disbursed to Pinnacle Communications under the Federal Government’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
Delivering her ruling on Thursday, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo stated that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had failed to prove its charges against the defendants.
The judge noted that the evidence and testimonies provided by the prosecution witnesses were insufficient to establish any connection between the defendants and the alleged crime.
Justice Ogunbanjo emphasized that several of the prosecution’s witnesses contradicted themselves, and their statements were unable to link the former NBC DG and Pinnacle Communications to the charges.
She further pointed out that although some witnesses claimed the former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, had been misled into approving the ₦2.5 billion payment to Pinnacle Communications, they failed to provide any documentary evidence to support their claims.
The trial, which spanned over six years, involved a five-count amended charge brought by the ICPC against Modibbo and Pinnacle Communications.
The charges stemmed from the approval and release of the ₦2.5 billion to Pinnacle Communications Ltd. for the DSO project under the former minister’s directive.
However, the court’s ruling concluded that the prosecution’s case lacked the necessary evidence to secure a conviction.
As a result, Justice Ogunbanjo discharged and acquitted both the former NBC DG and Pinnacle Communications Ltd., bringing an end to the lengthy legal proceedings.
