Alleged money laundering: Atiku’s lawyer, brother re-arraigned

Mr Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, lawyer to former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, and his brother, Erhunse GiwaOsagie charged with alleged money laundering, yesterday pleaded not guilty before Justice Chuka Obiozor, sitting at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Their plea was taken after the court dismissed their applications seeking adjournment and consolidation of charges with Atiku’s son-in-law Abdullahi Babalele, who is also standing trial in another court for alleged money laundering.

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.

They 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).

They had pleaded not guilty 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 re-assigned to Justice Obiozor.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, 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.