EFCC amends charge against Diezani, Belgore, Suleiman

* Accuses defendants of paying Kwara REC, CP N10m
each

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has amended
the charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Dele
Belgore and former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar
Suleiman.

Former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
is also named in the charge. EFCC said she is “at large”.

Belgore and Suleiman, who were arraigned on February 8, are on
trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in
Lagos.

In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke,
Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to Kwara
State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Emmanuel
Onucheyo.

The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner
of Police Garba Saliu.

According to EFCC, the defendants allegedly made the payments on
March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by
law and violated Sections 1(a) and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section
16 (2) (b).

The defendants were accused of making cash payment of
N61,656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is
authorised by law.

EFCC said they also paid N87,962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya
Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial
institution.”

The prosecution, as in the previous charge, accused the
defendants of violating the Money Laundering Act by dealing in
excess cash without going through a financial institution.

EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum
N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known
[that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of
N450million on March 27, 2015, and of making cash payment of
N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

According to the commission, Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and
Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one
Sheriff Shagaya, an amount in excess of what the law allowed.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Mrs Diezani
Alison-Madueke (still at large), Muhammad Dele Belgore and Prof
Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March in Nigeria
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst
yourselves to directly take possession of the sum of N450,000,000,
which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the
proceeds of 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.”

The amended charge is dated November 22 and signed by Rotimi
Oyedepo.

Belgore and Suleiman are expected to be re-arraigned
tomorrow.

* Accuses defendants of paying Kwara REC, CP N10m
each

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has amended
the charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Dele
Belgore and former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar
Suleiman.

Former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
is also named in the charge. EFCC said she is “at large”.

Belgore and Suleiman, who were arraigned on February 8, are on
trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in
Lagos.

In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke,
Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to Kwara
State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Emmanuel
Onucheyo.

The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner
of Police Garba Saliu.

According to EFCC, the defendants allegedly made the payments on
March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by
law and violated Sections 1(a) and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section
16 (2) (b).

The defendants were accused of making cash payment of
N61,656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is
authorised by law.

EFCC said they also paid N87,962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya
Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial
institution.”

The prosecution, as in the previous charge, accused the
defendants of violating the Money Laundering Act by dealing in
excess cash without going through a financial institution.

EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum
N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known
[that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of
N450million on March 27, 2015, and of making cash payment of
N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

According to the commission, Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and
Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one
Sheriff Shagaya, an amount in excess of what the law allowed.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Mrs Diezani
Alison-Madueke (still at large), Muhammad Dele Belgore and Prof
Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March in Nigeria
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst
yourselves to directly take possession of the sum of N450,000,000,
which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the
proceeds of 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.”

The amended charge is dated November 22 and signed by Rotimi
Oyedepo.

Belgore and Suleiman are expected to be re-arraigned
tomorrow.