The no-case submission filed by Bature Masari, the former director of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises, SMEDAN, has been dismissed by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to a statement on Thursday signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Justice O. A. Egwuatu on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, dismissed the “no-case submission” of Masari, ordering him to enter his defense against the fraud charges leveled against him by the Commission.
The anti-graft commission is prosecuting Masari on an amended 22-count charge of money laundering and official corruption totaling N119,507,080 (one hundred and nineteen million, five hundred and seven thousand, eighty naira).
Following the EFCC’s conclusion of its case, which included calling a witness and presenting materials in court to prove its case, the defendant submitted a “no case submission,” requesting discharge and acquittal on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to establish a case of wrongdoing against him.
On January 13, 2026, the prosecution filed a response to the “no case submission,” which was adopted.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed Masari’s “no case submission” on Wednesday, ruling that the prosecution has sufficiently proven that he has a case to answer and should thus proceed to defend himself against the EFCC’s claims of fraud and corruption.
The case was adjourned until February 23, 2026, when the defendant may begin his defense.
