EFCC breaks silence on arrest and detention of Atiku’s son-in-law

While Atiku Abubakar maintains that the arrest of his son-in-law is part of a plot to make him concede defeat in the February 23 presidential election, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given its own reason for the arrest.

Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the just-concluded presidential election, had condemned the continued detention of son-in-law, describing it as a price being paid for supporting him.

But the EFCC while confirming the arrest, said it has begun an investigation into alleged money laundering by the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s group of companies, Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi.

Acting spokesman of EFCC, Tony Orilade, stated this in Abuja, on Monday, adding that Abdullahi was in the commission’s custody.

“We are investigating a case of money laundering against Abdullahi. We shall speak at the appropriate time,” Orilade said.

Although the EFCC has not revealed the actual figure in the laundering allegation against Abdullahi, there are reports that it is about 150 million Euros.

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The arrest of Babalele was revealed in a statement by Atiku’s Media Aide, Paul Ibe.

He alleged that in a “desperate move” to make him concede and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, EFCC invaded the Maitama residence of Abdullahi.

“The EFCC agents numbering about two dozen came in two regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus with registration number Abuja CS 522 RSH and a Hilux van.

“They came with a warrant to search the house and office of Abdullahi 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 searching.

“Afterwards, Abdullahi was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement,” Abubakar said.

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