EFCC closes case on Belgore, ex-minister’s money laundering trial

EFCC, teachers, SUBEB, NUT

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday closed its case against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Dele Belgore, who is standing trial over alleged money laundering to the tune of N450m.

Belgore is standing trial alongside a former Minister of National Planning, Prof Abubakar Suleiman.

The EFCC first arraigned the duo on five counts on February 8, 2017, before the Federal High Court, Lagos.

They were subsequently re-arraigned on an amended charge on Tuesday, shortly after which the commission announced the closure of its case.

The prosecuting counsel for EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the anti-graft agency had decided to rest its case after calling two witnesses and tendering a number of exhibits.

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

In response to the closure of the EFCC’s case, the defence counsel, Mr Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), said that they would be filing no-case submissions on behalf of their clients.

The trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, adjourned till January 16, 2018, to hear the defence.

It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had dragged Belgore before the judge over the allegation that he collected a sum of N450m from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and further distributed same to its beneficiaries in Kwara State.

The Commission had also pointed accusing fingers at Belgore who contested in the 2015 governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara state for allegedly handling the said sum in cash without going through any financial institution.

The EFCC insisted that the offence contravenes the provision of sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

David Olagunju