EFCC Arraigns Atiku’s
EFCC Arraigns Atiku’s Son-in-law, Lawyer for $2, 140,
000 Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal
office on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, arraigned one Abdullahi
Babalele before Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal
High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a two-count charge,
bordering on money laundering to the tune of $140, 000.
In a similar development, the EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, same
day, arraigned one Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to Atiku, before
Justice Oweibo on a three-count charge, bordering on money
laundering to the tune of $2,000,000 (Two Million United State
Dollars).
Babalele, who is son-in-law to Atiku Abubakar, former vice
president and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential
candidate in the 2019 election, allegedly persuaded one Bashir
Mohammed to make a cash payment of $140,000 without going through
any financial institution-an offence that runs contrary to Section
18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2100-as amended
and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
One of the charges against Babale reads: “That you, Abdullahi
Babalele, on or about the 20th day of February, 2019 in Nigeria,
within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, procured Basir
Mohammed to make a cash payment of the sum of $140,000.00 (One
Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) without going
through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount
authorized by the Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 18(C) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as
amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two charges. In view of
his plea, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked for a trial
date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody
pending trial.
Babale’s defence counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, however, informed
the court that his client had filed an application for bail and
served same on the prosecution. Ozekhome, therefore, urged the
court to grant bail to his client and to remand him in EFCC custody
in event that the bail application was not determined today.
In his response, Oyedepo told the court that he was served the
bail application this morning and that he needed time to respond to
it, and further argued that the defendant be remanded in prison
custody because EFCC detention facility was congested.
Consequently, Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to August 15,
2019 for determination of the bail application and ordered that the
defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
Giwa-Osagie was arraigned alongside his son, Erhunse Giwa-Osagie
for a similar offence. The defendants were allegedly in possession
of the sum of $2million cash without going through any financial
institution.
One of the charges against Giwa-Osagie reads: “That you,
Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie and Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, sometime in February,
2019 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court,
considered to commit an offence to wit: making cash payment of the
sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) without
going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the
amount authorized by law and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 18(a), and 1(a) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section
16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, following
which prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, asked for the court a trial
date and for the defendants to be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel to the first defendant, Ahmed Raji, SAN, as well as
counsel to the second defendant, Quarkers Norrison, SAN, both
informed the court that their clients were only served with the
charges yesterday, Tuesday, August 13, 2019.
Despite the short notice, the defence counsels told the court
that they had filed applications for the bail of their clients and
urged the court to grant them bail.
They, however, added that their clients be remanded in the EFCC
custody “in case the application is not determined today.”
The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, informed the court that he was
served the bail applications this morning and would need time to go
through them and respond accordingly.
Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to August 15, 2019 for
determination of the bail applications and ordered that the
defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
August 14, 2019
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