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Prosecutor's Absence Stalls Belgore, Sulaiman's Trial Over Alleged Laundering of N470m

February 23, 2017

Mr. Belgore and Mr Sulaiman, a professor of political science and international relations, are being tried before Justice Muhammed Aikawa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering.

The trial of the former Kwara State People's Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), and a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abubakar Sulaiman, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over the alleged laundering of N470 million, was stalled on Thursday due to the absence of lead prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo.

Mr. Belgore and Mr Sulaiman, a professor of political science and international relations, are being tried before Justice Muhammed Aikawa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering.

The two accused pleaded not guilty to the counts and were granted bail on self-recognisance.

The trial of the duo was slated to commence on Thursday, but a lawyer from the EFCC, Nkewe Anana, told the court of the inability of the lead prosecutor, Mr. Oyedepo, to arrive to court in time, as his vehicle broke down while coming to his office, hence he was unable to make it to the court as scheduled.

Mr. Anana also told the court that the prosecution’s witness was unable to make it to Lagos yesterday.

He said the witness, who is coming from Ekiti State, called the Commission and said he would be coming today.

Consequently, Mr. Anana asked the court for a short stand down pending the arrival of the lead prosecutor, Mr. Oyedepo, and the witness.

In response to the prosecution's application, lawyers to Mr. Belgore, Mr. B. O. Shofunde, Mr. Charles Edosanwa, and Mr. Seni Adio, and lawyers to Mr. Sulaiman, Chief O. Ayanlaja, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, and Olatunde Busari, opposed the stand down application of the prosecution and instead urged the court to adjourn the trial.

Mr. Shofunde told the court that the prosecutor only told him of the problems facing the lead prosecutor, Mr. Oyedepo, adding that he did not tell him anything about the witness' absence.

In acceding to the request of the defence counsels, the presiding judge chastised the prosecution for delaying the trial.

Justice Aikawa said, “Prosecution should show a sign of seriousness with the case. This is a criminal proceeding.”

Consequently, the judge, while adjourning the trial till March 13 and 14, urged the prosecution to ensure that all its witnesses are present in court for the commencement of the trial.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Mr. Belgore and Mr. Sulaiman, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably knew to be the proceed of crimes.

They were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015, transferred the sum of N50 million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through financial institutions.

The alleged offences 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.

Count one of the charges reads, "That you, Mohammed Dele Belgore and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March, 2015, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to directly take possession of the N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) and 4 of the same act.”

Count two reads, “That you, Mohammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly took possession of the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same act.”

Count three reads, “That you, Mohammed Dele Belgore, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: making cash payment of the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira), which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law without going through a financial institution, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b),16(2)(b) of the same act.”

Count four reads, “That you, Mohammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through a financial institution, made cash payment in the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four hundred and Fifty Million Naira), which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same act.

Finally, count five reads, “That you, Mohammed Dele Belgore and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March,2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without going through a financial institution, made cash payment of the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) to one Sheriff Shagaya, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same act.”

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Federal High Court of Nigeria