EFCC: The Real Reason We Dropped The Money Laundering Accusation Against Bobrisky.

On Monday, September 30, 2024, Bilikisu Bala, a Prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), addressed a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives that is investigating allegations of corruption involving certain officers of the Commission and the Nigeria Correctional Service. She asserted that the decision to drop money laundering charges in the case of Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was lawful and adhered to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Bala, who led the prosecution team in Okuneye's trial, informed the Committee that the charges were dismissed following information from the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), which indicated that Okuneye’s business, Bob Express, did not qualify as a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession (DNFIBP), thus precluding prosecution for violations of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022. "We initially filed six counts related to Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye, based on his confession that Bob Express was not registered with SCUML and was not submitting required returns. The first four counts pertained to Naira Abuse, while the fifth and sixth counts addressed money laundering. Okuneye's admission regarding the lack of registration of his firm with SCUML and the failure to submit returns was the basis for the initial money laundering charges. However, upon inquiring with SCUML about the firm's status, we received confirmation that it was not classified as a DNFIBP. Consequently, we could not ethically maintain the charges and opted to withdraw them, proceeding instead with the four counts of Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had entered a guilty plea," she stated. The prosecutor refuted allegations of financial inducement related to the dismissal of charges, asserting that no such occurrence took place. "There is absolutely no foundation for that claim. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permits the amendment of charges, which is a standard professional practice. It is absurd for anyone to link our decision to financial matters. Why did we reach out to SCUML if we intended to exclude the charges? We sought legal guidance, and when the Unit confirmed that the firm had not violated any laws, on what grounds should we have maintained the money laundering charges?" she stated. Bala, who appeared before the Committee alongside senior management of the EFCC, urged the Committee to thoroughly examine all allegations against the EFCC and to publicly disclose its findings in the interest of justice. The Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe, who represented Chairman Ola Olukoyede, emphasized the Commission's commitment to the integrity of its personnel. "We take the allegations of bribery against our officers very seriously. Integrity is one of our fundamental values. This is why we are here to present all relevant facts concerning the trial of Okuneye to the public," he remarked. Okuneye, a former convict, had claimed in a widely circulated audio recording that he offered N15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira) as a bribe to certain unnamed EFCC officers in an attempt to have money laundering charges against him dropped.