By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a $2 million money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke held, among others, that the EFCC failed to establish that the money said to have been delivered to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2019, was illegal.
In August 2019, Giwa-Osagie was charged with money laundering by the EFCC, who accused him of handling $2 million without going through a financial institution, an amount that exceeds what is authorised by law to be transacted in cash.
A three-count charge, signed by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, August 9, 2019 against the lawyer and his brother Erhunse Giwa-Osagie.
EFCC said they allegedly contravened sections 18(a) and 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, punishable under Section 16(2)(b).
The duo were arrested in Lagos after they heeded an EFCC invitation.
The lawyer was first arrested in March 2019 after a bureau de change operator Alhaji Abdullahi Usman identified him as the owner of the $2 million found in his possession. The commission alleged the money was to be used for the 2019 elections.
But back then, Abubakar condemned the investigation and said the anti-graft commission was intimidating him and his supporters.
“My son in law and lawyer have been detained, one for three weeks and the other recently,” Atiku said in March 2019.
“They are paying the price for supporting me. I urge those now persecuting them to remember that a government’s mandate is to pursue peace and justice for all, and not just those who support them.”
With Giwa-Osagie’s acquittal, Atiku Abubakar may have been vindicated.