The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mohammed Dele Belgore and former minister of National Planning Prof Abubakar Suleiman signed for the N450million they allegedly received from former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the money was part of $115,010,000 (about N37billion) allegedly shared by Alison-Madueke to some individuals in 36 states during the 2015 general elections.
EFCC re-arraigned Belgore and Suleiman on an amended money laundering charge in which Mrs Alison-Madueke was included as a defendant, though “at large”.
The commission said they “directly took possession of the sum” and conspired to make cash payment of N450million, which “exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through financial institution”.
Testifying at the trial yesterday, an EFCC operative, Usman Zikari, said the money was stashed in a bank’s vault before it was shared among the politicians and some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officers as gratification towards the 2015 general election.
He exhibited a receipt for N450 million which Belgore and Suleiman allegedly signed.
Zikari said sometime in 2016, the commission received an intelligence report that three firms and an individual, Adesanya Olaitan, took $89million to the bank on Alison-Madueke’s instructions.
The witness added that another aide of the former minister took $25,776,000 to the bank.
Zikari said the money was first converted to naira before it was then distributed to politicians, including the defendants.
He said in the course of investigation, the bank’s Managing Director was invited for questioning.
“During the interview with the MD, it was revealed that in December of 2014, the MD had a meeting with Mrs. Diezani, where she told him that some individuals would be bringing money, that he should keep the money, and that when the money was complete, she would give him further instruction,” he said.
Zikari said more money was brought to the bank and an instruction to convert the dollars and distribute it was given via Mrs Alison-Madueke’s son Ogbonna’s email address.
Justice Aikawa adjourned till June 15 for continuation of trial.
source: the nation
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