Diezani: Belgore loses bid to quash fraud charge A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore, on Friday lost his bid to quash the fraud charge filed against him and two former ministers. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Belgore and former minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman. They were charged along with former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large. The prosecution said Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to different individuals in 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections. Belgore and Suleiman allegedly received N450million in cash. Belgore’s lawyer, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), argued that the charge was not accompanied by a proof of evidence as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts (ACJA) 2015. He urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of competence and discharge his client. Dismissing Belgore’s application, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held: “I am in total agreement with the prosecution that this is a court of summary trial where criminal charge is not filed by a way of information but by summary statement of witnesses. “As it is in this instance, the prosecution has substantially complied with Section 396 of the ACJA.” The judge agreed with the prosecution that failure to file affidavits of investigation cannot affect the substance of the charge. He, therefore, dismissed the application to quash the charge and ordered the prosecution to go on with the trial. Justice Aikawa granted Belgore and Sulaimon’s application for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment in the United Kingdom and India between July 15 and August 8. They are expected to return their international passports to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar on or before August 31. Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations, and Belgore, a former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, were accused of conspiring between themselves to commit the offence on March 27, 2015. EFCC accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act. The commission said they committed the alleged offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under same. They were also accused of making cash payment of N450million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution. The post Diezani: Belgore loses bid to quash fraud charge appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore, on Friday lost his bid to quash the fraud charge filed against him and two former ministers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Belgore and former minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

They were charged along with former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.

The prosecution said Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to different individuals in 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Belgore and Suleiman allegedly received N450million in cash.

Belgore’s lawyer, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), argued that the charge was not accompanied by a proof of evidence as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts (ACJA) 2015.

He urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of competence and discharge his client.

Dismissing Belgore’s application, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held: “I am in total agreement with the prosecution that this is a court of summary trial where criminal charge is not filed by a way of information but by summary statement of witnesses.

“As it is in this instance, the prosecution has substantially complied with Section 396 of the ACJA.”

The judge agreed with the prosecution that failure to file affidavits of investigation cannot affect the substance of the charge.

He, therefore, dismissed the application to quash the charge and ordered the prosecution to go on with the trial.

Justice Aikawa granted Belgore and Sulaimon’s application for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment in the United Kingdom and India between July 15 and August 8.

They are expected to return their international passports to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar on or before August 31.

Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations, and Belgore, a former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, were accused of conspiring between themselves to commit the offence on March 27, 2015.

EFCC accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

The commission said they committed the alleged offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under same.

They were also accused of making cash payment of N450million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution.

 

The post Diezani: Belgore loses bid to quash fraud charge appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.