EFCC Re-arraigns Former Minister, SAN Over Alleged N450m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, re-arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore and a former Minister for National Planning, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering the sum of N470 million.
Belgore, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain who contested the governorship election in Kwara State in 2015 and the former Minister, who served during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, who were earlier arraigned on a five count -charge were on Tuesday re-arraigned on a nine count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.
The EFCC alleged in the new charge that the duo, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and directly took possession of N450 million, which they reasonably knew to be proceeds of crime.
The two defendants were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015, transferred the sum of N50 million to some politicians and security officers in Kwara state without going through financial institutions.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d),1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3), 4 and 16(2)(b)of the same Act.
The two defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Also during the proceedings, the anti-graft agency closed its case against the defendants after the second prosecution witness, Usman Zakari concluded his testimony.
Oyedepo informed the court that the anti-graft agency had decided to rest its case after calling two witnesses and tendering a number of exhibits.
The lawyer said the anti-graft agency believed it had already established its allegations against Belgore and his co-defendant.
In their reactions, the defence lawyers, Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), informed the court that they would be filing no-case submission applications on behalf of their clients.
The trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, adjourned till January 16, 2018 to hear the applications.
