EFCC Arrests Atiku’s Lawyer, Son-In-law Over Alledged $2 Million Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly arrested Uyi Giwa Osagie who is a legal adviser to Atiku Abubakar, and Abdullahi Babalele, the former vice-president’s son-in-law on Thursday evening, August 8.

A spokesperson for the EFCC, Tony Orilade, told newsmen that he needed additional time to give official comments about the arrest.

However, Premium Times learnt that the anti-graft commission had perfected plans to arraign Giwa-Osagie for alleged money laundering.

Giwa-Osagie will be reportedly arraigned on three count charges, the sources alleged. The alleged charges are as follows:

COUNT 1
That you UYIEKPEN GlWA-OSAGIE and ERHUNSE GlWA-OSAGIE, sometimes in February, 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired 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 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.

COUNT 2
That you UYIEKPEN GIWA-OSAGIE on or before the 12th day of February,2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, procured ERHUNSE GIWAOSAGIE to make cash payment of the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) without going through financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by 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.

COUNT 3
That you ERHUNSE GlWA-OSAGIE sometimes in February, 2019 In Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made the payment of the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) without going through financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 1(a). & 16(1).(d) of the Money Laundering(Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and Punishable under section 16 of the Same Act.

The arrest is coming five months after Babalele and Giwa-Osagie were detained for several days while being questioned in a multi-million dollar money-laundering probe.

He was reportedly arrested after a bureau de change operative allegedly identified him as the owner of $2 million found in its possession.

The commission alleged that the funds were to be used for the 2019 general elections.