EFCC Arraigns Atiku’s Son-In-Law For Alleged Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday arraigned Abdullahi Babalele, who is said to be a son-in-law of Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Babalele was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on a 2-count charge of money laundering.

The EFCC alleged that the defendant, in the build-up to the 2019 general election, laundered $140, 000.

According to the charge signed by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the agency, Babalele committed the offence in February 2019.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the two counts.

Following a request made by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Justice Oweibo ordered that Babalele be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application Thursday.

Also, Uyiekpen Osagie-Giwa said to be Atiku’s lawyer, was separately arraigned for allegedly laundering $2 million, in connection with the general election

The two counts against Abdullahi reads;

COUNT 1: 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 a cash payment of the sum of $140,000. 00 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand 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(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 a 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.

NAN