By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Dele Belgore, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), standing trial over N450 million fraud, Monday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria that he only received funds for the 2015 Campaign coordination in Kwara State.
Belgore gave the evidence before Justice Mohammed Rilwan Aikawa while under cross examination, in a Money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Belgore and a former Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering offences.
They had however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.
Belgore, who was campaign coordinator of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, had concluded his testimony in defence of the allegation on April 12, while the court had adjourned for cross examination.
When trial resumed on Monday, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo appeared for the prosecution, Mr Ebun Shofunde (SAN) appeared for Belgore while Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), announced appearance as counsel for second defendant.
Under cross examination by Oyetibo, Belgore told the court that there were some fund raising activities by the PDP, in the build up to the 2015 elections.
He confirmed that prior to the election , there were complaints of insufficient funds by the State’s PDP, adding that when the funds eventually arrived Kwara, it was used specifically for purposes of campaign coordination.
Oyetibo asked: ” At the end of the fund raising exercise, lots of money running into 10s of billion was raised by the party.
“Belgore responded in the affirmative.He also confirmed that in a presidential election, the candidates are expected to have a party agent in each polling unit, adding that there were about 1,872 polling units in Kwara at the time.
The witness further told the court that there were also Ward Collation Agents which are also required by every candidate, adding that there were 193 wards in Kwara which required collation agents.
He told the court that in some areas considered to be problematic, there were up to three ward collation agents there.
According to him, there are 16 Local Government Areas in Kwara and three Senatorial districts, adding that one Local Government Collation Agent and a Senatorial Collation Agent is required by a Presidential candidate.
Furthermore, he told the court that besides these agents mentioned, there were also State Collation Agents.He testified that the Agents were paid for services rendered, as well as for expenses which include, their service fees as party Agents, Transportation, and Feeding.
Defence counsel then asked: “So the complaint about non availability of funds before the election, relates to funds for all these expenses as enumerated?
“The witness replied Yes, adding that these complaints were communicated to the headquaters.
He said that as State coordinator, he received information on the funds when it was released, and he believed same to be from the fund raising.
Defence counsel: “Can you recollect the date of the Presidential Election?
“Witness: “March 28, 2015.
Defence: “So, it is humanly impossible for you and the second defendant to have distributed the funds across Kwara State between 26 and 28 March?
The witness replied:”That’s correct”
When asked if he or the second defendant collected any part of the N450million , he replied No.
On whether the money was from Central Bank of Nigeria, he said Yes, and on whether he was informed of any other source of the money, he said “No to the best of my knowledge.”
Referring to counts one to six of the charge, on the allegations of conspiracy with a former Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke, he replied:”From when I was appointed Campaign coordinator, up till now, I never met, communicated, or interacted with Diezani or any person said to be acting on her instruction or behalf.”
When asked if after receiving the money he or the second defendant were later informed by anyone that part of the money was remaining, he replied No.
Under cross examination by the prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, Belgore admitted that he gave some part of the money to the police.
At this juncture, Justice Mohammed Rilwan Aikawa adjourned the case till May 15 for continuation of trial.
In the nine-count charge, the EFCC alleged that Diezani (said to be at large) conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of the sum of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act.
They were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash, which exceeded the amount authorized by law, without going through the financial institution.