Atiku’s Lawyer, Brother Failed To Stop Re-arraignment On Money Laundering Charges
Moves by Mr. Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, lawyer to a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to stall his plea been retaken today, over alleged money laundering, met a brickwall, as the presiding judge, justice Chuka Obiozor, refused his application for adjournment, written by his lawyer.
In the same vain, Justice Obiozor also refused the application written by Uyiekpen’s brother, Eruhunse, asking the court to consolidate his charge with Atiku’s son-in-law Abdullahi Babalele, who is also standing trial in another court for money laundering charges
Both Uyiekpen, a partner in the law firm of Africa Law Practice (ALP) and his brother are being tried before the court on three counts charge of money laundering to the tune of $2 million USD.
The were first arraigned before the court on August 14, while the court was on annual vacation, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The offences they had pleaded not guilty to and admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in the like sum.
Upon the resumption of the court from the annual vacation, the matter was reassigned to Justice Obiozor.
At the resumed hearing of the matter Tuesday, counsel to Uyiekpen, Johnson Samuel, who stood in for Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), drew the court’s attention to the letter for adjournment from his principal.
He told the court that his principal had requested for adjournment to enable him be in court when his client’s plea will be taken.
Also, Oladimeji Anjorin, counsel to Uyiekpen’s brother, Eruhunse, who stood in for his principal, Mr. Norrison I. Quakers, equally drew the court’s attention to two letters written by his principal.
One of the letter is seeking an adjournment for the hearing of the case today and the other is seeking consolidation of his client’s charge with the Alhaji Atiku’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele in another court.
Responding to the defendants’ letters, EFCC counsel, Mr. Kufre Uduak, urged the court to refused and dismissed the letters for adjournment as requested by the two senior lawyer, as there were no basis for such request since the court’s business for today was plea taken.
Uduak also urged the court to refused Erhunse’s application seeking consolidation with Atiku’s son-in-law, as the parties in the two charges were not the same. Most importantly, he told the court that he was not abreast with the facts in charges against Atiku’s son-in-law, as he was not the counsel in the matter.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Obiozor ruled that “unfortunately there is nothing before the me to know what FHC/L/484c/19, is all about. This matter is not for counsel’s plea, plea belongs to all defendants, after plea, commencement pf trial.
“Now that this charge has been assigned to this court, there is no reason not to proceed today. By NJC directive, court has the right to proceed with any case before it, even with the pendency of petition.
“The admin judge may or may not concede for the consolidation, until that decision is taken, I see no reason not to proceed with the case, particularly, as the business today is for plea.