Money laundering charges against Bobrisky dropped legally — EFCC

A Prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bilikisu Bala, on Monday, said the money laundering charges dropped in the trial of Idris Okuneye (a.k.a Bobrisky) complied 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.

A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said Bala disclosed this on Monday at the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the commission, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.

Okuneye, an ex-convict, had alleged in a viral video that he offered N15m bribe to some unnamed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges against him.

But addressing the committee, 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?”.

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.

ivolt:

So anybody can register a firm as a Non-Financial Institution and be free to engage in money laundering
without consequence?

This EFCC is either an illiterate or lying to cover up other serious crimes, likely the alleged bribe.
Any firm, registered or not, financial or not, even individuals can be charged with money laundering if they
engage in money laundering, that is the position of the law.

EFCC is making silly excuse.

fabianiyobosa:
Bobrisky bought a house of more than 400 million. Can someone tell me his trade?

I believe he has other properties as well.

This social media stuff must be really paying because Bobrisky does not sell a single product.

From his interview with BaeU, one could tell he was never in Prison because BaeU tackled him on it and all he did was smile while providing vague responses.

This country is fantastically corrupt.

Judolisco:
I saw d house of representatives yesterday summon VDM, although I've not been following dis nonsense, I think d d house of representatives should be abolished, since they don't have any work to do... Rubbish


Fuel is 1100 and 20,000 naira fuel can't full your tank, alot of stuffs are now expensive, but na bobrisky and VDM matter we dey discuss for even national assembly..... Be like say we mumu for dis country oh.... Our mumu no 2 much?

ivolt:

So anybody can register a firm as a Non-Financial Institution and be free to engage in money laundering
without consequence?

This EFCC is either an illiterate or lying to cover up other serious crimes, likely the alleged bribe.
Any firm, registered or not, financial or not, even individuals can be charged with money laundering if they
engage in money laundering, that is the position of the law.

EFCC is making silly excuse.

Mikkeal:

You want to speak like an educated fellow but your ignorance is bare for all to see ,what is money laundering? If his coy was affiliated to any financial institution or if the account of his company had shown unusual or large amounts of money coming in and out there would be basis for suspicion do you think anybody would engage such a volatile character like Bob to launder money for them

Racoon:
Chai! Just imagine the shamelessness and disgrace of an EFCC! This attempt @ damage control is,just exposing the monumental rot in the EFCC because the bribe was actually collected but now the agency has been exposed.

This is what happens when a crime-fighting government agency become a bribe taker. Nothing to justify this shit. Every agency of government is a well set lawless criminal organisation under this regime.