It was learnt that the opposition party, PDP chieftain was put on a fresh trial alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd, for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bello Mohammed before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for an alleged N300million fraud.
It was learnt that the opposition party, PDP chieftain was put on a fresh trial alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd, for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Mohammed was re-arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms, through the office of the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
At the day’s proceedings, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts, leading the counsel to the EFCC to apply for a trial date.
Kanu Agabi, the defendant's counsel, urged the court to allow Mohammed to stay on the existing bail granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
Agabi contended that Mohammed did not violate the preceding bail restrictions, and that he would not jump bail.
Although Atolagbe did not oppose Agabi's application, he claimed that his bail was already revoked for violating the terms.
Justice Lifu, who allowed Mohammed to the bail granted by a sister court, rescheduled the trial for May 7 and 8.
In count one, the company, the former PDP chair and his son, Bello Abba Mohammed (now deceased), were accused of taking possession of the sum of ₦300m paid into the account of Bam Project and Properties Ltd with Sterling Bank Plc, from the account of the NSA's office with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on or around March 17, 2015.
The EFCC alleged that the funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Dasuki (rtd.), and that the offence is contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The former PDP chairman was earlier arraigned before Justice Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 5, 2016, and was granted bail on January 7, 2016.
Although the matter had reached an advanced stage, Justice Mohammed was elevated to the Court of Appeal recently, making the case start afresh.