The Adamawa State High Court has discharged and acquitted retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sheriff Abubakar Rabiu, of allegations involving the alleged unlawful conversion of landed properties valued at ₦80 million.

The judgment, delivered on Friday by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, brought to an end a criminal trial that lasted nearly five years.

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Rabiu, who previously served as Chief Security Officer to former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, had faced a five-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and related offences.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulrahman held that the prosecution failed to establish the essential elements of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court concluded that the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain any of the allegations against the retired police officer, leading to his discharge and acquittal on all counts.

According to the judgment, the prosecution did not present credible and convincing evidence capable of proving the offences alleged in the charge filed by the Adamawa State Government.

The prosecution stemmed from complaints relating to two landed properties reportedly valued at ₦80 million and linked to Rabiu’s former principal.

The case originated in November 2021 when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested and detained Rabiu following a petition reportedly submitted on behalf of Sebore Farms Limited, a company associated with the Nyako family.

The petition alleged that Rabiu fraudulently converted the properties while serving as Chief Security Officer to the former governor.

According to the prosecution, he had been instructed to acquire the properties on behalf of Sebore Farms but allegedly transferred the ownership documents to another company before later selling the properties after Nyako’s impeachment in 2014.

Rabiu was subsequently arraigned before the Adamawa State High Court on November 12, 2021.

The proceedings attracted public attention from the outset after Rabiu’s initial counsel withdrew from the case, alleging that confidential communication sent to the DSS had been leaked.

The court later granted the former police officer bail on health grounds under strict conditions, including a ₦100 million bond and the provision of a reliable surety.

Throughout the trial, the defence consistently denied all allegations, insisting that payments for the disputed properties were made from Rabiu’s personal bank account.

His legal team also challenged the prosecution’s claims regarding the ownership of the properties and questioned the legal status of entities central to the case, including Sebore Farms Limited and Sebore Export Process Zone.

The proceedings experienced several delays over the years, with multiple adjournments resulting from the prosecution’s inability to produce key witnesses.

After both parties adopted their final written addresses, the court reserved judgment before eventually ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Reacting to the verdict, Rabiu’s counsel, Roland Emem, welcomed the judgment, describing it as a triumph for justice. He commended the Chief Judge for adhering strictly to the law throughout the lengthy legal process.

The ruling officially brings the long-running criminal proceedings against the retired Assistant Commissioner of Police to a close.