A prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Bala, has defended the decision to drop money laundering charges in the trial of popular Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. Speaking before a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, Bala explained that the charges were dismissed lawfully in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Bala, who led the prosecution team in the case, informed the committee that the decision was based on a disclosure from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), which stated that Okuneye’s firm, Bob Express, was not classified as a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business, and Profession (DNFIBP). As such, the firm could not be prosecuted under the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act of 2022.
Initially, six charges were brought against Bobrisky, four relating to naira abuse and two to money laundering. However, after consulting SCUML on the status of Bob Express, it was revealed that the firm did not fall under the purview of entities required to register with the unit. This led to the dismissal of the money laundering charges, with the EFCC opting to focus on naira abuse charges, to which Bobrisky had already pled guilty.
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Addressing allegations of financial inducement in dropping the charges, Bala firmly denied any bribery claims. She emphasized that the decision was in line with legal practices and was made transparently. “We amended the charges lawfully and professionally based on SCUML’s guidance,” Bala stated, dismissing rumors of financial impropriety as baseless.
Bobrisky, who was convicted of naira abuse, had earlier alleged in a viral video that he offered N15 million as a bribe to EFCC officers to drop the money laundering charges. However, the EFCC’s Chief of Staff, Commander CE Michael Nzekwe, refuted these claims before the committee, reiterating that integrity is a core value of the commission and urging a thorough review of all allegations raised.
The committee’s findings are awaited as they continue to investigate the corruption allegations surrounding the case.
