Alleged money laundering: I’ve no knowlege of money paid into bank account, Belgore tells court

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore, Tuesday, told a Federal High in Lagos that he thought the N450 million was sent from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja and not part of 115 million dollars, doled out by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Belgore was being led in evidence by his counsel, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN), at the resumed trial over N450 million money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“As campaign co-ordinator in Kwara for the 2015 election, we were informed that monies would be sent from the Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Abuja, to the PDP in Kwara.

“My lord, I have no information that the money was paid on the instructions of Allison-Madueke.  I have never met her, and I have never spoken with her. I have never dealt or spoken with anybody claiming to be acting on her behalf.

“In relation to me, in relation to PDP, in relation to the presidential campaign for which I was coordinator, and in relation to the said N450 million or any sums at all.

“As I have said before, as co-ordinator and stakeholder in Kwara state, we had asked the presidential campaign headquarters for funds for the election and we were told that there were no funds available.

“We were however informed that there will be series of fund raising activities, where funds will be raised; i also know that within a very short time, the headquarter called me and said that the funds were available.

“So, all along, there was absolutely no case, no evidence, no indication, and nobody saying that the money came from any other place other than the presidential campaign headquarters.

“So, it was surprised when I received the proof of evidence in February 2017, and when Pw2 told the court in his evidence, of a different source of the money,” he said.

But prosecution witnesses I and 2(Pw1 and Pw 2) had in their testimonies alleged that the money from which the N450million was brought, came from some oil marketers.

In response, Belgore said: “Well, my lord, I do not know any of the said oil marketers that Pw1 and Pw2 claimed provided the money.

“I have never met them; I have never dealt with them, or dealt with anybody who claimed to be acting on their behalf.  I first heard of them in February 2017 when I was served with the proof of evidence,”

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case until March 27 and April 10 for continuation of trial.

NAN reports that the anti-graft agency is prosecuting Belgore, alongside a former Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N450million.

The commission alleged that the money was part of a sum of 115 million dollars, which the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, (Alison-Madueke), doled out to influence the 2015 general elections. (NAN)

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