A prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Bala, has stated that the money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, were dropped lawfully in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Bala made this declaration on Monday, September 30, 2024, before a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against EFCC officers and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
Bala, who led the prosecution in Bobrisky’s trial, explained that the decision to drop the money laundering charges was based on a disclosure from the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML). SCUML confirmed that Okuneye’s firm, Bob Express, was not classified as a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business, and Profession (DSNFIBP), a key criterion for prosecution under the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
“We initially filed six charges, four related to Naira abuse and two to money laundering, based on Okuneye’s confession that his firm was not registered with SCUML. However, SCUML later clarified that Bob Express did not fall under the category of firms required to register, so we could not lawfully sustain the money laundering charges,” Bala told the Committee.
She dismissed claims that financial inducement influenced the decision to drop the charges, emphasizing that the ACJA allows for the amendment of charges in line with legal protocols. “It is baseless to suggest any bribery was involved. We sought SCUML’s guidance on the status of the firm to ensure we acted within the law,” Bala added.
Accompanied by senior EFCC officials, including the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Commander Michael Nzekwe, Bala urged the Committee to thoroughly investigate all allegations and make its findings public to ensure justice. Nzekwe reiterated the EFCC’s commitment to integrity, stressing that any accusations of bribery against EFCC officers are taken seriously.
Bobrisky, an ex-convict, had claimed in a viral video that he paid N15 million to unnamed EFCC officers to drop the money laundering charges, an allegation the EFCC vehemently denied.
