Atiku’s son-in-law, lawyer get N20m bail each

                                 Atiku Abubakar


By Olalekan fabayo

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law of former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar N20 million bail.
Oweibo also granted Atiku’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, and third person N20 million bail each.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Wednesday arraigned Babalele for allegedly laundering $140,000 in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.
Also, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, said to be Atiku’s lawyer, was separately arraigned for allegedly laundering $2m, in connection with the polls.
Atiku contested against President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Both Babalele and Giwa-Osagie were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oweibo had adjourned till today to take their bail applications.
However, ruling on the bail application on Thursday, Oweibo granted Babalele bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety who must be resident in Lagos and owner of a property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Babalele is also to deposit his international passport with the court.
The judge ordered that he should be remanded at the EFCC’s custody until he is able to perfect his bail conditions.
Also, Justice Oweibo granted Giwa-Osagie and a third person N20 million bail each with one surety each who must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court in Lagos.