Nigeria, Oct. 15 -- The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, the Chairman of AA Oil Limited, Aliyu Abubakar, and six other defendants of money laundering charges relating to the OPL 245 deal.

Delivering judgement on Thursday, Judge Inyang Ekwo held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt, as required by law.

The EFCC had charged Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, A-Group Construction Company Limited, Rocky Top Resources Limited, Mega Tech Engineering Limited, Novel Properties and Development Company Limited, Imperial Union Limited, Carlin International Nigeria Limited and Mr Abubakar as the first to th...