A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday dismissed a no case submission application filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dele Belgore and a former Minister of Planning, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, seeking to stop their N450 million alleged fraud trial.
In a ruling on two separate application filed by the two men, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa, ordered them to open their defence against the case made out against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Aikawa held that after a careful study of the prosecution’s case, he had formed an opinion that the defendants should enter their defence in the case.
He stated, “I have read the facts of the case at my disposal and I have formed an opinion that the first and second defendants has a case to answer. In the circumstances, I therefore overrule the no-case submissions. It is hereby dismissed. The defendants should proceed to open their defence.”
But after the ruling, counsel to Belgore Seni Adio (SAN) drew the court’s attention to an application dated January 16, 2018, asking the EFCC to furnish him with the complete set of his client’s extrajudicial statements to the commission.
Adio claimed that part of the statements written by Belgore is still with the EFCC, saying the production of the documents is vital to his client’s defence.
In his reaction, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, denied holding on to any of Belgore’s statements.
He alleged that the motion which he claimed was just served on him in court yesterday was a ploy to prevent the defendants from opening their defence.
Oyedepo said, “All the statements volunteered by the first defendant has been tendered in this case. We cannot be tendering them in piecemeal. All the statements have equally being frontloaded to the defence. We don’t have anything to produce.
“This issue was also raised in the first defendant’s no-case submission and we reacted to it. As far as we are concerned, the issue has been determined with the ruling just delivered”.
Justice Aikawa while adjourning further hearing in the matter to April 30, directed the EFCC to file a formal response to the motion.
The defendants were on November 28, 2017, re-arraigned before the court by the anti-graft agency on an amended nine-count charge bordering on the alleged offence.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
In the nine count amended charge, the EFCC alleged that a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (said to be at large) conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of the sum of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act.
The trio were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash, which exceeded the amount authorized by law, without going through the financial institutions.
Belgore, Sulaiman and Madueke were also alleged to have paid the sum of N50 million to one, Sheriff Shagaya, without going through the banks.
They were equally accused of paying the sum of N10 million to one, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kwara State, without going through any financial institution.
The EFCC also alleged that the trio paid N10 million to CP Garba Salihu, in violation of Sections 1(a), 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.
