October 15, 2019 re-arraigned a lawyer to the former Vice President and
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the last
general election, Atiku Abubakar, Uyiekpen Osagie-Giwa and his son,
Erhunse Giwa-Osagie before Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor of the Federal
High Court, Ikoyi on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering
to the tune of $2, 000, 000 (Two million United States Dollars).
The duo was first arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo for the same
charges on the 14th of August, 2019 which they both pleaded not guilty.
They were re-arraigned today because the matter was brought before
another judge.
At today’s proceedings, the lead counsel to the first and second
defendants, Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Quarkers Norrison (SAN) were
represented by Johnson Samuel and Olufemi Anjorin respectively. They
applied in writing to the court to adjourn the matter on grounds that
the lead counsel for both defendants were not in the court .
They informed the court that a letter had been written to the
administrative Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, seeking directive
to consolidate the case as same charges were filed against the
defendants before both Justice Obiozor and Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke
The prosecution counsel, Kufre Uduak, who held brief for Rotimi Oyedepo
confirmed the receipt of the ‘consolidation letter’ and the
applications for adjournment .
However, he told the court that the plea was to be taken by the
defendants and not their counsels, adding that, “absence of lead counsel
should not stall proceedings given the fact that they are represented in
court.”
“There was no concrete basis for the defence counsel to seek the
administrative judge’s permission for consolidation of the case”, Kufre
told the court
“The matter before Justice Oweibo is not in any way related to the case
brought before your lordship, and does not require any form of
consolidation”, he said.
Justice Obiozor, however, overruled the prayers of the defence for
adjournment and ordered that the defendants take their plea.
He however held that the court cannot predetermine the decision of the
administrative judge on the consolidation of the cases.
“The court has to wait to hear from the administrative judge on
consolidation but however the defendants shall take their plea”, Justice
Obiozor ruled.
The defendants took their plea as ordered by the court and pleaded not
guilty to the charge.
One of the charges read, “That you Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie and Erhunse
Giwa-Osagie sometime in February, 2019 in Nigeria, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, considered to commit an offence
to wit: making cash payment of the sum of $2, 000, 000 (Two Million
United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution,
which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), and 1(a) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under
Section 16(b) of the same Act.”
In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Kufre, asked for a trial
date.
Counsel to the defendants urged the court to allow their clients
continue to enjoy the bail terms and conditions granted by Justice
Oweibo.
Justice Obiozor acceded to the request of the defendants adjourned the
case to December 5, 2019 for possible hearing as parties await the
decision of the administrative judge on consolidation.
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