Witness Reveals How Diezani Paid N450m into Belgore, Ex-Minister’s Accounts

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

Ad

Why Wike Should Resign or Be Sacked: A Call to Organized Civil Society in Nigeria to Uphold Anti-corruption Standards with Consistency, By Frank Tietie

By Frank Tietie The revelations by Nigerian social crusader, investigative journalist, and activist Omoyele Sowore regarding the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyiesome Wike, are serious and warrant the attention of all Nigerians who care about the integrity of the country. Sowore has alleged that Wike laundered funds and concealed the purchase of…

Dangote Refinery Slams PENGASSAN, Describes Order as ‘Economic Sabotage’

By Abiola Olawale In an escalating labor showdown, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has fired back at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), criticising the latter’s order on Saturday. This is as the refinery owned by Africa’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote described PENGASSAN's order to cut crude oil and gas…

Intimate Affairs: ‘I don’t want a mother-in-law,’ By Funke Egbemode

By Funke Egbemode Tola doesn’t wish anybody dead. She just doesn’t want to go through what her mother went through in the hands of her grandmother. She had been told that she might just be lucky and end up with a husband with a kind mother. But she’s scared, I believe, irredeemably, by the trauma…

Ad

The trial of Muhammed Dele Belgore, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, commenced on Monday, March 13, 2017 before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, with a prosecution witness, Timothy Olaobaju, a staff of Fidelity Bank Plc., revealing how the immediate former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly paid the sum of N450, 000,000 into the defendants’ accounts.

The accused persons were arraigned on February 8, 2017 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of $115,010(equivalent of N450m.)

One of the counts reads: ‘‘That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and Prof. 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 Prof. 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) & 4 of the Same Act.’’

At the resumed hearing today, Olaobaju, who is the first prosecution witness, PW1, told the court that he met the defendants in the course of his duty as a supervisor for operational activities in his region.

Olaobaju, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said that the Bank’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, told him sometime in April 2014 that some individuals and three companies- Northern Belt Oil and Gas Company, Auctus Integrated Investment Limited and Mid-Western Oil and Gas Company Limited- would pay some money in dollars into the bank.

He also told the court that Okonkwo, however, did not disclose the purpose of the payment.

Giving further testimony, he said: ‘‘In March 27, 2015, there was a directive from the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison- Madueke, through the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, that the received funds should be converted to Naira and paid to some certain individuals.

‘‘Both Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman were among the beneficiaries of the money. The sum of N450, 000, 000. 00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) was paid to them as instructed.’’

The receipt of payment was tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibit by the court.

Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to March 14, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Ad

Unlocking Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea during UNGA80
X whatsapp