The Federal High Court, Lagos, has dismissed a $2 million money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The court also discharged the lawyer’s brother, Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, of the same charge. The siblings were re-arraigned last February 23 on a three-count charge of laundering $2 million in the build up to the last general elections.
The commission closed its case and prayed the court to order the duo to open its defence. But the defendants opposed the anti-graft agency, arguing among others that they never acted illegally.
They filed a no-case submission praying the judge to dismiss the charge. Ruling on the applications, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld the Giwa-Osagies’ submissions and discharged them of the charges. He held, among others, that the EFCC failed to establish that the money was illegal.
