Bilikisu Bala, a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told a joint committee of the House of Representatives on Monday that the decision to drop money laundering charges against popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Addressing the committee investigating allegations of corruption within the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Bala, head of the prosecution team handling Bobrisky’s trial, explained that the charges were dropped after the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) disclosed that Bobrisky’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession (DNFIBP) under the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.
“We initially raised six counts against Okuneye, including Naira abuse and money laundering. However, when we wrote to SCUML, they confirmed that Bob Express was not required to register as a DNFIBP, making it impossible to pursue the money laundering charges,” Bala explained.
Bala emphasized that the decision to drop the charges was based on legal procedures and not due to any form of financial inducement, dismissing such claims as baseless.
“There is simply no basis for financial inducement. The ACJA allows for the amendment of charges, and it is a professional practice. It is laughable to suggest that monetary issues influenced our decision,” she added.
The prosecutor stated that the four remaining counts against Bobrisky related to Naira abuse, to which he had already pleaded guilty.
Appearing alongside other senior EFCC officials, Michael Nzekwe, Chief of Staff to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, reiterated the commission’s commitment to integrity and transparency.
He stated that the EFCC takes allegations of bribery seriously and urged the committee to thoroughly examine the case and make its findings public in the interest of justice.
The investigation follows Bobrisky’s earlier claims that he bribed EFCC officials to drop the money laundering charges against him, a statement that sparked widespread attention and calls for further scrutiny of the matter.
