The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released a press statement following allegations against them stating that the organization collected N15 million from Nigerian crossdresser Bobrisky to drop money laundering charges.
A prosecutor, Bilikisu Bala made this known on September 30th as he told a joint committee of the house of representative investigating allegations of corruption against the commission and the Nigeria correctional service that the money laundering charges dropped in the trial of Bobrisky were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Bala, who headed the prosecution team that handled Okuneye’s trial, stated that the charges were dropped based on the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business, and Profession, and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.
Bala said, “We initially raised six count charges bordering on naira abuse and money laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it.”
“Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and did not render returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six-count. However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business or Profession.”
“We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty.”
The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened. “There is simply no basis for that.”
She said, “The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?”
See the post below:
Money Laundering Charges against Bobrisky were Dropped Lawfully – EFCC
A Prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Bilikisu Bala on Monday, September 30, 2024, told a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of… pic.twitter.com/vBB3GA4iaJ
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) September 30, 2024