Atiku’s lawyer and son-in-law arrested again by the EFCC

Uyi Giwa Osagie, Atiku Abubakar’s longtime legal adviser was arrested on Thursday August 8 alongside Abdullahi Babalele, son-in-law of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election. 

The duo were arrested on charges of money laundering after they honored an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos, as reported by Premium Times. Charges against Mr Osagie include; 

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 came 5 months after they were detained for days by the anti-graft agency who questioned their involvement in a multi-million dollar money laundering scandal.

Their first arrest was linked to a bureau de change operative’s confession of Mr Osagie being the owner of $2 million found in its possession. The two persons close to the Nigerian opposition leader were released at that time following allegations of the arrest being politically motivated. 

Insiders however claim that the commission are now set to arraign Mr Giwa-Osagie and Mr Babalele for alleged money laundering.