Key Takeaways
- Lagos businessman Michael Kelechi Nwaobasi and his company, Kenten Table Water Nigeria Limited, were discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court in Umuahia.
- The charges against them included conspiracy to possess hard drugs and money laundering, filed on November 21, 2024.
- The court, presided over by Honourable Justice K.O. Ogundare, upheld a 'no case submission' on May 29, 2025.
- The prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants on any of the five counts.
- The acquittal was made pursuant to Section 357 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
A significant legal victory has been secured by Lagos-based entrepreneur Michael Kelechi Nwaobasi and his company, Kenten Table Water Nigeria Limited, as they were fully discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State. The ruling, delivered on May 29, 2025, brought an end to a protracted legal battle involving serious allegations of conspiracy to possess hard drugs and money laundering.
Nwaobasi, who identified himself as the first defendant in Charge No FHC/UM/CR/143/2024, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nwaobasi Kelechi Monday (also known as Nwaobasi Kelechi Michael, “Aboy”) and Kenten Table Water Nigeria Limited, confirmed the acquittal through an affidavit sworn before a Notary Public of Nigeria in Satellite Town, Lagos. This affidavit, dated August 4, 2026, was made available to journalists, serving as official documentation of the court's decision.
The Charges and Court's Verdict
The businessman and his company had faced a five-count amended charge, initially filed on November 21, 2024. These charges, which carried severe penalties, alleged their involvement in illicit activities related to hard drugs and financial impropriety. However, the Federal High Court, presided over by Honourable Justice K.O. Ogundare, found the prosecution's case to be lacking in substance.
In its pivotal ruling, the court held that the prosecution had unequivocally failed to establish a prima facie case against Nwaobasi and Kenten Table Water Nigeria Limited on any of the five counts. A prima facie case, a Latin term meaning “on the face of it,” refers to a case where the evidence presented by the prosecution is sufficient to prove the elements of the crime, requiring the defendant to present a defense. In this instance, the judge determined that the evidence was insufficient to even warrant calling on the defendants to enter their defense.
“In sum, I find that no prima facie case has been made out against the defendants by the prosecution in all the counts as the prosecution has failed to prove the elements of the offence in each of the counts,” Justice Ogundare stated in the ruling delivered in open court. “Consequently, the no case submission is hereby upheld and the defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted on each of the 1st -5th counts of the offence charged by virtue of Section 357 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.”
Understanding the 'No Case Submission'
The upholding of a 'no case submission' is a significant legal outcome. It means that the court, after hearing the prosecution's evidence, concluded that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence to prove the essential elements of the alleged crimes. This legal mechanism, enshrined in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, protects defendants from being subjected to a full trial when the initial evidence presented by the state is demonstrably weak or insufficient. For Nwaobasi and his company, this ruling signifies a complete exoneration without the need to present their own defense.
The certified true copy of the ruling listed E.C. Onyema-Opara, Esq., as counsel for the prosecution, while V.A. Ekwegh, Esq., and O.E. Porbeni, Esq., represented the defendants, whose diligent efforts ultimately led to this favorable outcome.
Why This Matters
This acquittal underscores the importance of due process and the rigorous standards required for criminal prosecution in Nigeria. It serves as a crucial reminder that allegations, no matter how serious, must be substantiated by compelling evidence, reinforcing public confidence in the judiciary's role in upholding justice and protecting citizens' rights against unsubstantiated claims.