Belgore: I have no case to answer in ‘N450m fraud’

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore, has filed a no-case submission to a N650 million money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Belgore’s co-defendant, former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar Suleiman also filed a similar application before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In effect, they intend not to call any witnesses to defend themselves because they believe the prosecution did not present a strong case against them

Both men urged Justice Aikawa to discharge and let them go.

Former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge. EFCC said she is “at large”.

The defendants were accused of collecting a cash sum of N450m from Mrs Alison-Madueke in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

After calling two witnesses and tendering a number of exhibits, the EFCC closed its case against the defendants last November 28, leaving the floor for them to open their defence.

Oyedepo said the anti-graft agency believed it had already established its allegations against Belgore and his co-defendant.

At the resumed proceedings yesterday, defence counsel, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), told the court that they had filed no-case submissions on behalf of their clients.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa adjourned till February 15, 2018 to hear the defendants.

The duo was first arraigned on five counts on February 8, 2017 before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The EFCC subsequently amended the charges on two occasions.

In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo.

The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police Garba Saliu.

EFCC also alleged that the defendants “directly took possession of the sum N450million.”

They were accused of handling the sum without going through any financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

They were also accused of paying N50m cash to one Sheriff Shagaya; N61,656,000 cash to one Isa Biu and N87,962,000 to the duo of Sola Adeoti and Hajiya Farida Dankaka.

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