Money Laundering: New Judge Takes Over Trial Of Atiku’s Lawyer, Brother
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has taken 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 re-arraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor, on the same counts’ charge.
However, when their trial was to commenced 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 laundered 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 Justice Aneke, the judge fixed January 14, 2020, for the re-arraignment of Giwa Osagies’ brothers.
The EFCC in a charge numbered number FHC/L/283c/19, read 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 pleaded not guilty to the charges and they have been granted bail in various terms.
