By Ali Elias
An Ikeja Special Offences Court has discharged and acquitted Azubuike Ishiekwene, a veteran journalist and chairman of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solution Limited, along with Olalekan Abdul, the company’s managing director and CEO, of all fraud and forgery allegations brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendants had faced a 26-count charge filed by the EFCC in 2020, accusing them of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing. The commission alleged that they, along with two others—Adeyinka Adewole and Morakinyo Bolanle, who remain at large—fraudulently obtained N350 million and N1 billion from Wema Bank under false pretenses.
According to the EFCC, the defendants forged a board resolution document dated April 9, 2018, purportedly issued by Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions Ltd, and used it to secure a loan from Wema Bank. The prosecution further claimed that Abdul, on December 14, 2010, presented a false board resolution to obtain another credit facility from the bank.
Defendants Deny Allegations, Claim Political Vendetta
Both Ishiekwene and Abdul pleaded not guilty to all charges and filed no-case submissions in August 2023, seeking to have the case dismissed.
Ishiekwene, in his defense, alleged that the case was a vendetta by certain EFCC operatives after he reported them for demanding a $20,000 bribe. The prosecution countered this claim, insisting a prima facie case had been established.
After reviewing the arguments, Justice Mojisola Dada ruled on November 17, 2023, that the defendants had questions to answer, allowing the case to proceed.
The prosecution called nine witnesses, while the defense presented four during the trial.
Lagos Attorney-General Intervenes, EFCC Drops Key Charges
In a dramatic turn, the Attorney-General of Lagos State took over the case after a legal review and filed a notice of discontinuance under Section 211 (1)(C) of the Constitution.
Following this intervention, the EFCC, through its counsel Franklin Ofoma, initially opposed the move but later dropped 20 out of the 26 charges, filing an amended charge on October 24, 2024. This left only one count against Ishiekwene, which was eventually dismissed under Section 155 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2021.
With the state dropping its charges, the remaining charge against Abdul fell under federal jurisdiction, outside the purview of Lagos State law.
Attorney-General of the Federation Steps In, Case Withdrawn
Before Abdul could be re-arraigned on the amended federal charge, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the case on January 30, 2025. The AGF subsequently filed a motion to withdraw and discontinue the case under Section 108 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
On March 5, 2025, Justice Dada ruled in favor of the AGF’s withdrawal, striking out the case and fully acquitting Abdul.
“This therefore puts paid to all pending applications and the case is struck out. The defendant is discharged and acquitted pursuant to Section 73 (1) and (11) ACJL, 2021,” Dada declared.
With this ruling, both Ishiekwene and Abdul have been fully cleared of all allegations, bringing an end to a legal battle that lasted nearly five years.