Court frees Atiku’s lawyer, dismisses money laundering charge

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By Ismail Auwal

The lawyer of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osage, has been freed by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The court also dismissed the $2 million money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the lawyer.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Lagos High Court on Monday held, among others, that the EFCC failed to establish that the money was obtained illegally.

The EFCC had filed a 3-count charge against the lawyer for allegedly laundering $2 million in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

Also named in the charge was Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, who is said to be his brother.

The EFCC alleged that the two defendants conspired with each other to make a cash payment of $2 million on February 12, 2019 without going through a financial institution.

The offence is contrary to Sections 18(a) and 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, and culprits are liable to be punished under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

Both men had pleaded not guilty at their arraignment before the court in August 2019.

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