The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today February 8, 2017, arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Muhammed Dele Belgore and a former minister, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a 5-count charge of conspiracy and possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N450, 000, 000. 000).

But reacting after they were granted bail Professor Abubakar Sulaiman said ‘what has EFCC got to do with donations voluntarily made by oil marketers to Jonathan government?

Prof Abubakar Sulaiman with Bar Dele Belgore

The defendants were alleged to have made a payment of Fifty Million Naira (N50, 000, 000. 00) to one Sheriff Shagaya and also taken possession of the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N450, 000, 000. 000) without going through a financial institution.

One of the counts reads, “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and Professor 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) & 4 of the same Act”.

Another count reads, “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and Professor 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) and 4 of the Same Act”.

The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against them. In view of their plea, counsel to the first defendant, Ebun Shofunde, (SAN) prayed the court to grant bail to his client based on self recognizance. “He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and not likely to jump any bail; he has been faithful to the administrative bail granted him and will make sure to stand his trial”, he said.

In the same manner, counsel to the second defendant, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, (SAN) also prayed the court to grant his client bail on self recognizance. “He is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Abuja and was once a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he submitted himself to the EFCC and never jumped the administrative bail granted him”, he said.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC did not oppose bail but asked the court to grant the defendants bail in terms that will compel them to be available for trial.

Justice Aikawa granted the defendants bail on self recognizance and ordered that their international passports be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court and must only be released on court order.

The matter was adjourned to February 23, 2017 for trial.

Our Arrest is Abuse of Prosecurial Power- Ex-Minister of Planning

Mr. Kale Belgore, SAN, and my humble self, were invited by the EFCC to its Lagos Office for questioning on N450million campaign fund during the 2015 Presidential elections.

Of course, we were in the EFCC’s custody for a few days and today, by the grace of God, we were granted bail on self-recognisance.

It is however apt to put the record straight and situate the development within the context of the politics currently playing under the present administration.

I wish to state unequivocally that this didn’t come to me as a surprise. It is a continuation of politics by other means, and that has nothing to do with the source of election funds that emanated from the presidential campaign office. The question is; what has EFCC got to do with donations voluntarily made by oil marketers to Jonathan government?

The commission, in a bid to implicate us and set the general public against us, was busy struggling and frantically searching for better word to use. The whole charade is an abuse of prosecutorial power .

But I assure you it cannot stand in any court of law. We shall fight hard to prove our innocence and I believe the judiciary is there to do justice to this case. Thank God, we are not been alleged to personally enrich ourselves with the so-called fund.