Belgore is
standing trial alongside a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar
Sulaiman, for allegedly receiving the sum of N450m on March 27, 2015 out of the
$115,010,000 paid by a former Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015
presidential election.
They were
accused of handling the huge sum without going through any financial
institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
Act.
At the resumed hearing today, June 25, 2018, counsel to the first defendant, E. O. Sofunde, SAN, informed the court that he had filed a motion on behalf of his client, Belgore, seeking the court’s order to expunge the charge.
In his response, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he had not filed a counter-affidavit because the defence was trying to stall the proceedings.
“Ever since my Lord ruled on the no-case submission, the defence has been bringing a harvest of motions trying to stall the proceedings.
"It appears the SAN is trying to re-litigate an issue that formed part of the no-case submission, which my Lord has ruled over.
"I have been served with a motion on notice, which substantially is praying my Lord to dismiss the charge.
At the resumed hearing today, June 25, 2018, counsel to the first defendant, E. O. Sofunde, SAN, informed the court that he had filed a motion on behalf of his client, Belgore, seeking the court’s order to expunge the charge.
In his response, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he had not filed a counter-affidavit because the defence was trying to stall the proceedings.
“Ever since my Lord ruled on the no-case submission, the defence has been bringing a harvest of motions trying to stall the proceedings.
"It appears the SAN is trying to re-litigate an issue that formed part of the no-case submission, which my Lord has ruled over.
"I have been served with a motion on notice, which substantially is praying my Lord to dismiss the charge.
"It was not brought pursuant to
any section of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
"The motion is claiming that the Certificate of Identification in Exhibit 3 was uttered and they are asking the court to dismiss the charge.
"I submit that your Lordship should put in abeyance the hearing and determination of this motion, which is intended to suspend my Lord’s order calling on the defence to open its case in accordance with the provisions of Section 396 of the ACJA.
"I urge the court to direct the defence to open its case in compliance with the court’s order."
Sofunde, however, objected to the oral submission by Oyedepo, stating that "the application has been with him for weeks and he is yet to respond.
"The motion is claiming that the Certificate of Identification in Exhibit 3 was uttered and they are asking the court to dismiss the charge.
"I submit that your Lordship should put in abeyance the hearing and determination of this motion, which is intended to suspend my Lord’s order calling on the defence to open its case in accordance with the provisions of Section 396 of the ACJA.
"I urge the court to direct the defence to open its case in compliance with the court’s order."
Sofunde, however, objected to the oral submission by Oyedepo, stating that "the application has been with him for weeks and he is yet to respond.
He also asked the court for a
short date to enable him reply to
Oyedepo’s submission, adding that
" My client is seeking the release of his passport to enable
him to attend his daughter’s graduation on July 4, 2018 in the United Kingdom
and also attend to his health sometime in August, 2018."
After listening to both counsel, Justice Aikawa allowed the submissions of the prosecution counsel and adjourned to June 28, 2018 for the reply of the defence counsel and hearing of the motion of the first defendant.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Aikawa allowed the submissions of the prosecution counsel and adjourned to June 28, 2018 for the reply of the defence counsel and hearing of the motion of the first defendant.
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