The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday heard that Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, allegedly gave former President Olusegun Obasanjo the naira equivalent of $140,000.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Bashir Mohammed, told Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke that he delivered the cash to Obasanjo on behalf of his “close friend” Babalele.

Babalele is on trial for allegedly laundering $140,000 in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

The EFCC arraigned him on two counts of money laundering in August.

He procured Mohammed “to make a cash payment of $140,000 without going through any financial institution,” the anti-graft agency claimed.

EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the money exceeded the threshold stipulated by the money laundering Act.

The alleged February 20, 2019 transaction contravened Sections 18 (c) and (2)(b)of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, Oyedepo said.

Babalele pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, the EFCC called Mohammed as its first witness.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness narrated how he allegedly delivered the sum to the former president at his Abeokuta, Ogun State home.

Obasanjo endorsed Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of this year’s presidential poll.

But Atiku lost the election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mohammed said he got a phone call from Babalele sometime in February, requesting him to deliver a message to “an elder statesman.”

He said on Babalele’s request he supplied two bank accounts, which were credited.

The court heard that the witness took the money to Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mohammed said: “When I got to the gate, somebody came and took me inside where I met former President Olusegun Obasanjo and delivered the message.”

“I called the defendant in the presence of former President Obasanjo and informed him that I had delivered the message. He said that was good and thanked me.”

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mohammed affirmed that he wrote a statement at the EFCC office during the investigation.

Ozekhome’s bid to tender the statement as an exhibit was, however, opposed by the prosecutor.

Justice Aneke adjourned till today to rule on the admissibility of the statement.

Azzazz:


The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday heard that Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, allegedly gave former President Olusegun Obasanjo the naira equivalent of $140,000.

The EFCC arraigned him on two counts of money laundering in August.

He procured Mohammed “to make a cash payment of $140,000 without going through any financial institution,” the anti-graft agency claimed.

EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the money exceeded the threshold stipulated by the money laundering Act.

The alleged February 20, 2019 transaction contravened Sections 18 (c) and (2)(b)of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, Oyedepo said.Source; https://www.ogbeta.ng/2019/11/i-gave-obasanjo-140000-from-atikus-son.html?m=1

So why give us the amount in dollars when the transaction was made in naira

why didn't EFCC see Ganduje who collected $230,000 as part of a series of cash advancement to the governor in a total bribery deal of $5 million.

I mean we all saw how he had concealed a total of $230,000 in his babanriga for the day’s transaction and you are here making a mole out of a mountain hill for just $140,000 una no let us rest when it was Fayose oooo

What about the 2 bullion vans Didn't it exceed the threshold stipulated by the money laundering Act What happened to the petition you requested against Tinubu

You are only publishing this because OBJ did not support Buhari

Is the EFCC still an independent organization

Buhari fight against corruption is pure garbage!!!

Siralgebra04:

Ganduje is a sitting governor bound by immunity.

johnmartus:
Atiku spent huge of money for this election. No wonder he leaved Nigeria for Dubai Because of shame . Nigerians should thank God that Atiku not win the election.

Smithkafors:
The money was a donation to obasanjo.Lets agree the in-law committed a crime,how about Tinubu bullion van?

Wiseandtrue:

So why give us the amount in dollars when the transaction was made in naira

why didn't EFCC see Ganduje who collected $230,000 as part of a series of cash advancement to the governor in a total bribery deal of $5 million.

I mean we all saw how he had concealed a total of $230,000 in his babanriga for the day’s transaction and you are here making a mole out of a mountain hill for just $140,000 una no let us rest when it was Fayose oooo

What about the 2 bullion vans Didn't it exceed the threshold stipulated by the money laundering Act What happened to the petition you requested against Tinubu

You are only publishing this because OBJ did not support Buhari

Is the EFCC still an independent organization

Buhari fight against corruption is pure garbage!!!

oz4real83:
you are one of the problems we have in this country. These people are deceiving the rest Nigerians, whether Atiku, obj, pmb and others. They unite when stealing from Nigeria. Why will u, who has never been a beneficiary of their thiefry, take side with any of them whenever karma catches up with them? Who would have even expected obj to have taken money from Atiku? Ganduje is a criminal and one day, karma will also catch up with him but must you use him to justify another criminal? Na wa for you oooo.

johnmartus:
Atiku spent huge of money for this election. No wonder he leaved Nigeria for Dubai Because of shame . Nigerians should thank God that Atiku not win the election.

SalamRushdie:



And Buhari didn't spend any money despite sending 2 bullion vans to Tinubu alone

johnmartus:
Lol your banned as expired i guess watch your mouth again.

SalamRushdie:



So you were part of those that Banned me for almost 2 years

Wiseandtrue:

So why give us the amount in dollars when the transaction was made in naira

why didn't EFCC see Ganduje who collected $230,000 as part of a series of cash advancement to the governor in a total bribery deal of $5 million.

I mean we all saw how he had concealed a total of $230,000 in his babanriga for the day’s transaction and you are here making a mole out of a mountain hill for just $140,000 una no let us rest when it was Fayose oooo

What about the 2 bullion vans Didn't it exceed the threshold stipulated by the money laundering Act What happened to the petition you requested against Tinubu

You are only publishing this because OBJ did not support Buhari

Is the EFCC still an independent organization

Buhari fight against corruption is pure garbage!!!

SalamRushdie:


So you were part of those that Banned me for almost 2 years

netpro:
Many Atikulating Zombies that got nothing were making the loudest noise.

While men like PDP delegates, Timi Frank, FFK, Reno, Secondus, etc were making a killing.

johnmartus:
Lol your banned as expired i guess watch your mouth again.