Justice O. A Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 dismissed the “no-case submission,” filed by the former director of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises, SMEDAN, Bature Masari, ordering him to enter his defence against the fraud charges levelled against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft Commission is prosecuting Masari on amended 22-count charge, bordering on money laundering and official corruption to the tune of N119,507,080 (One Hundred and Nineteen million, Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Eighty Naira).

Following EFCC’s conclusion of its case after calling a witness and tendering exhibits in court to prove its case, the defendant filed a “no case submission,” asking to be discharged and acquitted on the ground that the prosecution was not able to establish a case of wrongdoing against him.

The prosecution filed its response to the “no case submission,” and adopted it on January 13, 2026.

In dismissing the “no case submission” on Wednesday, Justice Egwuatu held that the prosecution has sufficiently proved that Masari has a case to answer and should therefore, proceed to defend himself against the allegations of fraud and corruption brought against him by the EFCC.

The matter was adjourned till February 23, 2026 for the defendant to commence his defence.