Court documents have confirmed that the recent Federal High Court judgment ordering the forfeiture of funds linked to a company associated with a Member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu, came after an earlier judgment acquitting the same lawmaker and two companies of all criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The two judgments emanated from separate proceedings, and were delivered by different judges and determined different legal issues, MJConcept TV News gathered.
While the earlier judgment arose from a criminal trial that lasted almost seven years, the later decision concerned a civil application seeking the forfeiture of funds allegedly linked to one of the companies.
Court records showed that on April 15, 2026, Justice F.O.G. Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, discharged and acquitted Mutu, Airworld Technologies Limited and Oyien Homes Limited on all 13 counts preferred against them by the Federal Government through the EFCC.
The Anti-Graft Agency had accused the defendants of engaging in transactions involving about ₦320m in alleged violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
However, after reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Ogunbanjo held that the prosecution failed to prove the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
“I therefore give the benefit of doubt to the Defendants and find them not guilty as charged on all the 13 counts of the charge,” the Judge had ruled.
A further examination of judicial records shows that the judgment has neither been stayed, vacated nor set aside by the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
The legal issues surrounding the matter resurfaced following another judgment delivered by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the forfeiture of funds allegedly linked to one of the companies earlier named in the criminal proceedings.
While Justice Ogunbanjo’s judgment arose from criminal proceedings that culminated in the acquittal of Hon. Mutu and the companies, Justice Abdulmalik’s decision arose from separate civil forfeiture proceedings concerning funds allegedly connected to one of the corporate entities.
Significantly, investigations also revealed that the forfeiture proceedings were determined without the court taking oral evidence from witnesses.
Legal analysts familiar with the proceedings stated that the absence of evidence reflected the procedural nature of the forfeiture application, which differs substantially from a criminal trial where witnesses are called, examined and cross-examined before a determination is made.
They explained that the criminal proceedings before Justice Ogunbanjo involved a full trial in which witnesses testified and were subjected to cross-examination before the court eventually held that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
A source contended that Mutu has directed his legal team to challenge the latest judgment before the Court of Appeal, where the legal issues arising from the separate proceedings are expected to be determined.
“Until any appellate court rules otherwise, the judgment delivered by Justice F.O.G. Ogunbanjo on April 15, 2026, discharging and acquitting Hon. Nicholas Mutu Ebomo, Airworld Technologies Limited and Oyien Homes Limited on all 13 criminal counts remains a valid and subsisting decision of the Federal High Court,” he stated.