A prosecutor from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Bala, has affirmed that the decision to drop money laundering charges against social media personality Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was in full compliance with the law.
Bala made this disclosure on Monday, September 30, 2024, during a session with a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some EFCC officers and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
According to Bala, who led the prosecution team in Okuneye’s case, the charges were lawfully withdrawn after the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) clarified that Bobrisky’s firm, Bob Express, was not classified as a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business, and Profession (DNFIBP).
This status meant the firm was not subject to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“We initially raised six counts, four of which were for naira abuse, while two were for money laundering. Okuneye had confessed that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML, which led to the inclusion of the money laundering charges. However, after confirming from SCUML that Bob Express was not a DNFIBP, we had no lawful grounds to maintain the money laundering charges,” Bala explained.
Bala further clarified that the EFCC subsequently dropped the money laundering charges and pursued the charges related to naira abuse, to which Bobrisky had already pleaded guilty.
Dismissing rumors of financial inducement behind the decision to drop the charges, Bala stated: “There is simply no basis for such an allegation. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) allows for the amendment of charges, which is a standard legal practice. It is laughable to claim that the decision was driven by monetary considerations. Why would we seek clarification from SCUML if we intended to act otherwise?”
The prosecutor urged the Committee to scrutinize all allegations raised against the EFCC with fairness, emphasizing the need for transparency in the pursuit of justice. Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, CE Michael Nzekwe, the Chief of Staff, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to integrity, stating: “Integrity is one of the core values of the EFCC. We take any allegation of bribery against our officers very seriously, which is why we are here to present the facts surrounding the trial of Okuneye in full.”
The clarification comes after Okuneye, a convicted criminal, posted a viral video claiming that he had offered a N15 million bribe to unnamed EFCC officers to have the money laundering charges against him dropped.
