A Federal High Court in Lagos has freed Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on a two-count allegation of alleged money laundering of $140,000.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke threw out the charge and discharged the defendant on the grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had chosen a wrong venue.
The court held that the charge against the defendant ought not to have been filed in Lagos when the alleged offence was said to have been committed in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Justice Aneke relied on the Supreme Courtâs decision in a case between the EFCC and Mohammed Dele Belgore on territorial jurisdiction.
Alleged $2m Fraud: How Atiku s Lawyer, Giwa-Osagie, Laundered $2m --Witness
premiumtimesng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from premiumtimesng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Alleged Fund Embezzlement: Court Frees Atiku s Son-In-Law
thebreakingtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thebreakingtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Court dismisses money laundering charges against Atiku’s son-in-law
Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday struck out money laundering charges filed against Abdullahi Babalele, son-in-law of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned Babalele on two counts bordering on money laundering sometime in August 2019.
He was accused of “procuring Bashir Mohammed to make cash payment of $140,000 without going through any financial institution.”
According to the EFCC, the money exceeded the threshold stipulated by the money laundering law.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Babalele made the transaction on February 20, 2019, in contravention of Section 18 (c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and was liable to be punished under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
Court discharges $140,000 fraud charge against Atiku s son-in-law
thenationonlineng.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenationonlineng.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.