Money laundering: new Judge takes over trial of Atiku’s lawyer, brother
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has taking over the prosecution of Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, lawyer to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Presidential candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 general election.
Uyiepken, a senior counsel in Africa Law Practices and his younger brother, Erhunse, are being tried before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundered the sum of $2 million USD.
The two Giwa-Osagie were first arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on August 14, during the court long vacation on three counts charge of conspiracy and money.
The offences they had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon resumption from the vacation, they were rearraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor, on the same counts charge.
However, when their trial was to commence before Justice Obiozor, their lawyers, Ahmed Raji and Norrison Quakers, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), brought and application before the court for the consolidation of the charge with that of Atiku’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele, who is being tried before Justice Aneke’s court.
Babalele is standing trial before Justice Aneke, for allegedly laundering the sum of $140, 000 USD.
Lawyers to Giwa-Osagies’ had told Justice Obiozor that a letter had been written to the Court’s Chief Registrar, for the consolidation of the charge with Babalele.
After their plea was taken, Justice Obiozor, returned the case file to the court’s registry and it was subsequently reassigned to Justice Aneke.
Meanwhile, upon reassignment of the case file to Justice Aneke, the judge fixed January 14, 2020, for the rearraignment of Giwa Osagies’ brothers.
The EFCC in a charge numbered number FHC/L/283c/19, had alleged that Uyiekpen, a senior lawyer in the law firm of Africa Law Practice (ALP) and his brother, Erhunse, were alleged to have on February 12, 2019, conspired among themselves and make cash payment of the sum of $2 million USD, without going through financial institutions.
Uyiekpen was alleged to have procured his brother, Erhunse, make the cash payment of the said sum without recourse to financial institutions.
The offences according to the prosecuting agency, EFCC, contravened 18(c), 18(a), 1(a), 16(1), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16, 16(2)(b)16(2)(b) of the same Act.
The two defendants have pleased not guilty to the charges and they have been granted bail in various terms.
The count one of the charges against the Osagie’s brothers read: “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.
And count three reads: “that you Erhunse Giwa-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”.
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