The Economy and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)has arrested two persons close to Nigerian opposition leader, Atiku Abubakar.
Uyi Giwa Osagie, a longtime legal adviser to Mr Abuakar, and Abdullahi Babalele, the former vice-president’s son in-law, were taken into custody on Thursday evening, according to multiple sources familiar with the development.
They were arrested after honouring an EFCC invitation in Lagos, sources said.
A spokesperson for the EFCC, Tony Orilade, told a news outfits he needed additional time to give official comments about the arrest.
But it was learnt that the commission was set to arraign Mr Giwa-Osagie for alleged money laundering.
It was learnt that the charges against Mr Giwa-Osagie are as follows:
COUNT 1
That you UYIEKPEN GlWA-OSAGIE and ERHUNSE GlWA-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 2
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 GIWAOSAGIE 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.