Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has stated before Nigeria Lawmakers that the commission wrongly filed money laundering charges against a popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky because of his confessional statement.

EFCC on Monday while speaking before the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of bribery and corrupt practices against some officials of the EFCC and Nigeria Correctional Service following an audio voice message that appears to be the voice of Bobrisky that was made available to the public by an activist, Martins Otse Vincent aka VeryDarkMan.

EFCC said they initially thought that Bobrisky firm, Bob Express was among the the special kind of businesses and activities that are mandated by law to be registered with  Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML due to Bobrisky confessional statement.

But the money laundering charges were dropped after EFCC wrote a letter of confirmation to SCUML and the special control unit wrote back to EFCC that Okuneye’s firm, Bob Express, was not among Designated Non Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DSNFIBP.

It could be interesting to note that Designated Non Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DSNFIBP are kind of businesses and professional services often used by people to launder money abroad.

The businesses and Professions include: Casinos: Entities that engage in gaming and gambling activities, which involve significant cash transactions.

Real Estate Agents: Professionals who deal with buying and selling of properties, often involving substantial amounts of money.

Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones: Businesses that trade in high-value goods, which can be used to convert illicit cash into valuable assets.

Lawyers, Notaries, and Other Independent Legal Professionals: Individuals who assist in buying and selling of property, managing client money, securities, and other assets, and other activities that may involve substantial value.

Accountants: Professionals who manage financial records and transactions, which can potentially be manipulated for money laundering.

Trust and Company Service Providers: Entities that provide services related to the creation and management of companies and trusts.

EFCC in a news release some hours ago, said: “A Prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC  Bilikisu Bala on Monday, September 30, 2024, told a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the Commission, and the Nigeria Correctional Service that charges of money laundering dropped in the trial of Idris Okuneye (aka Bobrisky) were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.

Bala, head of the prosecution team that handled the trial of Okuneye pointed out to the Committee that the charges were

Bala, head of the prosecution team that handled the trial of Okuneye pointed out to the Committee that the charges were dropped based on the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DSNFIBP, and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.

“We initially raised six count charges bordering on Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it.

Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abus, while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and not rendering returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six count charges.

However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DSNFIBP. We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty”, she said.

The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened.

“There is simply no basis for that. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?”, she said.

Bala, who appeared before the Committee with top management staff of the EFCC, charged the Committee to critically look into all the issues raised against the EFCC and make public its findings in the interest of justice. Chief of Staff to the EFCC’s Chairman, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe who stood for the Chairman, Ola Olukoyede restated the seriousness the Commission attached to integrity of its staff. “We viewed the allegation of bribery against our officers seriously. Integrity is one of our core values. This is why we are here to place all the facts involved in the trial of Okuneye in the public domain”, he said.

Okuneye, an ex-convict, had alleged in a viral video that he offered ₦15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira) as a bribe to some unnamed EFCC officers to drop money laundering charges against him”.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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