EFCC Rearraigns Atiku’s Son-In-Law, Babalele Over Money Laundering •His Lawyer Gets Oct. 15 For Trial

Abdullahi Babalele, the son-in-Law to the Nigeria former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku’s Abubakar, was today, rearraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, on two counts charge of money laundering.

He was rearraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke led-court on the charge, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Babalele rearraignment was sequel to reassigning the case to Justice Aneke.

Babalele was formerly arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on August 14, during the court’s annual vacation.

Also arraigned during the court’s long vacation is Atiku’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a partner in the law of Africa Law Practice.

Uyiekpen was arraigned alongside his younger brother, Erhunse on two counts charges bordering on laundering of $2 million.

At the resumed hearing of the charge against Atiku’s son-in-law, Babalele, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that his agency has a two counts against the defendant.

Oyedepo told the court that though, the plea of the defendant had been was formerly taken when he was first arraigned before Justice Oweibo, during the court’s long vacation. He however stated that it is a law that when the case file is been reassigned to another judge, the plea of such defendant must be retaking.

He therefore urged the to let the charge be read to the defendant for his plea to be retaking. He however stated that he would not oppose the any application for the defendant to continue the bail granted him earlier.

Though, Babalele’s lawyer. Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), urged the court that since the plea of the his client had earlier be taken, the court should discountenance prosecution’s plea and hear his client’s pending application for bail variation.

However, the presiding judge, acceded to prosecutor’s request and ordered that the defendant plea be taking.

After the taken of defendant’s plea, his counsel, Ozekhome (SAN) move his application for bail variation. This he told the court that granting the application will enable his client to travel abroad for medical treatment of a life threatened sickness.

Ozekhome (SAN) told the court that the application dated and filed on September 3, was supported with 15 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Ubong Ukong.

Babalele’s lawyer also informed the court that the application has four annexures were marked as Ab1, Ab2, Ab3 and Ab4, which were medical reports from Samiya Hospital, National hospital, all in Abuja and from one Michael Warren, from a London hospital.

Chief Ozekhome (SAN) also told the court that all the annetures points to great danger if the man did not come for medical. He added his client’s case is ‘life threatened’ and that the extent also contained in many diagnosis done by his client.

He urged the court to grant the application and release his client’s passport to enable him  travel abroad to medical treatment.

Responding, EFCC prosecutor, Oyedepo, urged the court to discountenance Babalele’s application as there was nothing  before the court to visibly accede the request.

In urging the court to discountenance the application, Oyedepo told there is no any invitation, as the one purportedly issued by Michael Warren was dated September 12, 2019, which he said had passed and “there is no appointment to be kept”.

Oyedepo also stated that all the annexures tendered by the defendant did not suggest that want diagnosed on defendant cannot be treated in any Nigeria hospitals.

He stated that non of the annexures states that the defendant has history of trauma, diabetic, hypertension, asthma and distress. 

Oyedepo therefore urged the court to refuse the application and order for accelerating hearing of the charge.

Upon listened to the to parties, Justice Aneke, adjourned the matter till October 11, for ruling on the application.

Meanwhile, further hearing of the money laundering charges filed against Atiku’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie and the brother to the lawyer, Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, today, has been adjourned till October 15.

Charge against the Atiku’s In-Law in charge number FHC/L/284c/19, reads

Count One:  “that you Abdullahi Babalele on or about the 20th day of February, 2019, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, procured Bashir Mohammed to make cash payment of the sum of $140,000. 00 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand 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 2: “that you Abdullahi Babalele on or about the 20th day of February, 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, aided Bashir Mohammed to make cash payment of the sum of $140,000. 00 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand 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) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act. 

Count One: “that you Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie and Erhunse Giwa-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 two: “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  Giwa-Osagie 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.