Many days after raging furore
over the arrest of Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, who is the son-in-law to the
defeated presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar,
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday owned up picking up the
man.
The Commission while admitting
for the first time that its operatives arrested Babalele, who is also the
Finance Director of Atiku’s group of companies, justified the arrest of the
man, saying that he was engaged in money laundering to the tune of€150 million.
The anti-graft agency did not
however specify how the huge sum was laundered or where it originated and where
it terminated.
But a source revealed that Atiku’s son-in-law was ‘taken away’ by security agents on
the suspicion that he could use hard currency to unduly influence the outcome
of many polls taking place in the country.
Although the EFCC had initially
kept mute over the arrest of Babalele, the agency on Monday tried to douse
rising tension over the detention of the man, admitting that he was in its
custody but did not indicate the exact location where the man was being kept.
A source in the commission said:
“Yes, he Babalele is being investigated over alleged case of money laundering
and the sum involved is €150 million.
“Let it be known that
investigation into the matter is ongoing and we can confirm that Babalele is in
our custody. But he will be released soon,” the source hinted on Monday.
However when contacted, the acting
spokesman for EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, who confirmed the detention of Babalele,
however declined further comments on the matter, insisting that the commission
does not conduct its investigation in the media.
“I do not have details for now
but we shall speak at the appropriate time,” Orilade stated.
The development followed
complaint by Atiku that his son-in-law had been arrested by the EFCC without
any justification.
According to a statement by
Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the EFCC officials were, however, not
given access into the house until Abdullahi’s lawyers arrived.
He said, “In a desperate move to
have Atiku Abubakar concede and congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, officials
of EFCC at about 8.30am today (Saturday) invaded the Maitama residence of
Babalele. They were, however, not given access into the house until his lawyers
arrived.
“The EFCC agents numbering about
two dozen came in two regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus (registration
Abuja CS 522 RSH) and a Hilux van.
They came with a search warrant
to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating.
“They then proceeded to his
office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there.
However, they took away some documents of landed property.
Not done, the EFCC officials
stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after
the search.
“Afterwards, Babalele was taken
away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba.
It was gathered that the petition relied upon to invade the residence and
office of Babalele was authored by a brother of the wife of President Buhari.
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This is how PDP spray their propagandas, very soon van gush will be put into a disgrace shame.
ReplyDeleteAre responding to something else? Na Wahoo.
DeleteMoney laundring? Hmmm. What about the bullion vans that were seen a day to the election at Tinubu's house? What do we call that?
ReplyDeleteHypocrisy! Fake anti corruption!
DeleteHmm this is the next level promised to Nigeria by the APC government being unleashed. God will see us through as He has in the last three years ten months.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this anonymous. what about the bullion vans in Tinubu's compound??? bad belle kill you, even APC is spending for election too stop accusing PDP.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that this APC is found of using one thing or the other to discredit their opposition as if they are Saint? just yesterday on 4th of March 2019 my immediate sister happens to be APC member and she told me that one commissioner came to Jakande to plead to their members towards Saturday election and he gave the 'Central Ward' Six million which means the other five zones under the 'Central Ward' should share one million each but only for the so called coordinators to come out and tell them that they are going to share N400 each to every one there after wasting their time energy for hours, but trust Lagostians now, the crowd refused and problem ensue, people started throwing stones and pure water on them and the crowd said they will never vote for APC in this governorship election instead other party, APC is full of useless members, irresponsible people, greedy and hungry people
ReplyDelete