EFCC re-arraigns Atiku’s son-in-law over alleged money laundering

EFCC re-arraigns Atiku’s son-in-law over alleged money laundering

- The EFCC has re-arraigned Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele, before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for alleged money laundering

- Babalele, however, pled not guilty and sought permission to travel abroad to treat a “life threatening” illness

- The counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, however, prayed the court to refuse the application and make an order for accelerated hearing of the charge

- The case was adjourned to October 11 for ruling on the application, by the presiding judge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, October 8 re-arraigned the son-in-law of former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Abdullahi Babalele, before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Babalele, however, sought the court’s permission to proceed abroad to treat a “life-threatening” illness, Daily Trust reports.

Legit.ng gathers that in a bid to prove his health status, the defendant tendered medical reports from two hospitals in Abuja and three in London.

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The EFCC is prosecuting Babale for allegedly laundering $140,000 in the build-up to the 2019 elections.

Babalele had been charged for the offense on August 14, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but the case was transferred to Justice C.J. Aneke.

He pleaded not guilty after being re-arraigned before Aneke on Tuesday.

The judge granted the defendant’s prayer to continue on the N20m bail with one surety earlier granted in August by Justice Oweibo. However, Babalele, applied for permission to travel abroad to treat his ailment, through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

Ozekhome informed the court that all the annexures to his application “point to great danger” if his client did not attend his medicals. He prayed the court to grant the application and release Babalele’s passport to enable him travel.

Ozekhome was, however, opposed by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, who prayed the court to refuse the application and make an order for accelerated hearing of the charge.

Oyedepo pointed out that there was no appointment to be kept, as the medical report from London bore a September 12, 2019 date which has passed.

He also argued that the defendant’s tendered annexures did not suggest that Babalele could not be treated in a Nigerian hospital.

The case was adjourned to October 11 for ruling on the application, by the presiding judge, following the conclusion of arguments.

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the EFCC arrested Uyi Giwa Osagie, a legal adviser to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Abdullahi Babalele, the former vice-president’s son in-law.

Multiple sources familiar with the development disclosed that the duo were taken into custody on Thursday evening, August 8.

Anonymous sources also claimed that the anti-graft commission had perfected plans to arraign Giwa-Osagie for alleged money laundering.

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Source: Legit.ng

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