You have no case to answer, judge tells AVM accused of N600m fraud

Saliu Atawodi, a retired air vice marshal (AVM), and a former chairman of the presidential implementation committee on marine safety and security, has been cleared of the allegation of diverting N600 million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused Atawodi of diverting the money meant for for the purchase of security patrol boats to fight oil bunkering.

Alongside one Rabiu Hassan of Hypertech Nigeria Limited, Atawodi faced a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

At the court on Tuesday, Tani Hassan-Yusuf, the judge, held that it was clear that the retired air vice marshal had no case to answer.

Earlier, at the trial court, Usman Cholli, an operative of the EFCC, said investigation revealed that the money was in Hypertech’s account and not in Atawodi’s.

“Our investigation showed that advance payment was made to the account of Hypertech Nigeria Limited, and not to the account of Atawodi, and we found that the sum of N620 million was in the company’s account,” he said.

“The description in the account from our investigation showed that the money was from PICOMMS, and even Hassan himself admitted that much with reference to N620 million from PICOMMS in his statement.”