Belgore and Prof. Sulaiman
By Paul Sanusi|
Muhammed Dele Belgore, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a former Minister, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman were dragged to a Federal High Court in Lagos today for allegedly possessing N450million suspected to be proceed of crimes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Belgore and Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning in 2014, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired and directly took possession of N450 million, reasonably known as proceed of crimes.
The defendants were also accused of transferring the sum of N50million on March 27, 2015, to one Sheriff Shagaya, without going through financial institutions.
They were arraigned on a five count charge of alleged laundering of N470 million.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, 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.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Belgore became a SAN in 2001 at the age of 40.
Born in London, England, on June 25, 1961, Belgore holds a LL.B (Hons) from Hull University England, 1983; LL.M, Bristol University, England, 1984. He was called to the Nigerian Bar, in 1985.
He was a Legal Officer in Nigerian Merchant Bank Limited 1985 – 1986; Counsel in Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers 1986–1989; a founding member and partner in Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore (Legal Practitioners) 1989 – to date. He is a Member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Nigerian Insurance Law Association and the Institute of Directors (IOD).
Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations, once accused President Muhammadu Buhari of lying that he inherited empty treasury.
He had argued then that the Goodluck Jonathan administration had left behind the sum of $30billion.
The EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo, urged the Court to fix a date for trial, in view of the pleas of the two defendants, who had put themselves up for trial, pursuant to Section 273 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Belgore’s lawyers led by Mr. E. O. Shofunde (SAN) and two others – Sheni Adio (SAN), Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), informed the court that they had filed a summon for bail, and such had been served on the prosecution.
Shofunde urged the court to grant their client bail on self-recognisance, because he is a senior lawyer, practising since 1985, and had become a SAN in 2001. He added that his client would not be a flight risk.
Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), the lawyer to Professor Abubakar, leading Mr. Olatunde Busari (SAN), also asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance.
Pleading for bail on self-recognizance, Ayorinde informed the court that his client is an educationist and a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2014, a Researcher and Teacher of over 20 years, who currently lectures at University of Abuja. He added that his client was not a flight risk, and never contravened any provision.
In response, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Oyedepo, said he left the issue of bail to court’s discretion. But he urged that the defendants should be granted bail in terms that would make them to attend trials.
Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Muhammed Aikawa, granted bail to the two defendants on self-recognizance.
The judge however ordered that the defendants’ international passports in the custody of the anti-graft agency be transfer to the Court and be deposited with the Court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.
The trial was then adjourned till February 23, 2017.
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This so called prosecution of big thieves should cut across party lines because many known APC established looters are still in government today smiling while Nigerians are suffering and smiling.