Alternative Africa

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Reports
    • Africa-Observers
      • Read Reports
      • Submit a story
  • MORE
    • Health
    • News Now
    • World
    • Technology
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

logo

Alternative Africa

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Reports
    • Africa-Observers
      • Read Reports
      • Submit a story
  • MORE
    • Health
    • News Now
    • World
    • Technology
  • Morocco honours Donald Trump, Jared Kushner

  • Stem cells from umbilical cord show promise in severe covid-19 therapy-Report

  • Be warned, ice cream tests positive for coronavirus in China

  • No change in horizon in Uganda as “lord Museveni” takes early election lead, rival alleges fraud

  • UK opens largest temporary mortuary as high covid deaths continue

News Now
Home›News Now›Nigeria: Court rejects Belgore’s application for Statements front-loading in N450m Fraud Case

Nigeria: Court rejects Belgore’s application for Statements front-loading in N450m Fraud Case

By alternativeafrica
May 23, 2018
514
0
Share:

 

Adetokunbo Fakeye 

Lagos, May 23, 2018 (AltAfrika)-Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday dismissed an application filed by Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN, seeking the order of the court to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to front-load his statements, which he claimed were hoarded by the Commission.

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 out by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezanni Allison-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 last adjourned sitting, counsel to the first defendant, Seni M. Adio, SAN, had moved a motion urging the court to order the prosecution to front-load the complete set of his client’s statements to the Commission.

Adio had claimed that the prosecution hoarded some of his client’s statements, adding that “they were not tendered before the court.”

However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had countered the allegations, saying “My lord, we are not a party to hiding any statement. All the statements made voluntarily by the first defendant have been front-loaded before the court.”

Oyedepo had further argued that the claim by the defence was just an attempt to delay trial, adding that “I have just been served in court and the application is not ripe for hearing.”

After listening to both counsel, the judge had ordered the prosecution to file a formal response to the motion.

At the resumed hearing today, the judge, in his ruling, upheld the argument of the prosecution that the motion seeking the order of the court directing the EFCC to front-load certain documents was an abuse of court process.

The judge held that “The first defendant should not rely on the issue of the prosecution holding his statements.

“He should do more by stating the name of the officer who took the statement, the time it was taken and the content of the statement.

“He has not discharged his evidential duty and shall have another time to state the contents of the statement he claimed was not front-loaded.

“This application lacks in merit and I dismiss same.”

Meanwhile, the second defendant, Sulaiman, had earlier informed the court that he had disengaged his counsel, A.O. Ayanlaja, SAN, and employed the service of another counsel.

He also said that his new counsel was not in court because he had other cases to attend to.

In his response, the prosecution counsel, however, told the court that he was not privy to the information.

“I am yet to receive any application from Mr. Ayanlaja, my Lord.

“By Section 349 (7) & (8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, notice should have been served on the court and not the parties.

“Mr Ayanlaja is not in court today. Likewise, the new counsel he claimed to engage is not here and no letter has been brought forth either.

“My Lord, this act by the defence is just to stay the proceedings of this case, which should not be.

“The law came to kill this mischief and we are exhuming it again. There is more to this, which the defendant is not saying”, Oyedepo submitted.

Counsel to the first defendant, E.O. Shofunde, in his response, told the court that he was not aware of that provision by the law until Rotimi read it out.

“My Lord, we learn everyday and I can boldly say that this is the first time I am hearing this provision.

“My submission is that, while the prosecution was right in referring to Section 349(8) of the ACJA and the said provision has been breached, I concede to that,” Shofunde said.

He also urged the court to adjourn and direct Ayanlaja, following his client’s disclosure, to file the necessary papers that he has been disengaged and not force him against his will.

“The defendant has the right to change his counsel at any time,” he added.

Consequently, Justice Rilwan adjourned the case to June 25 and 26, 2018 for continuation of trial.

 

SHARE ON:
Previous Article

Nigeria Senate considering special funding for military ...

Next Article

NNPC to open mega petrol stations in ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

alternativeafrica

Related articles More from author

  • News Now

    Nigeria: Ebonyi governor, petitions S/African govt over murder of Ebonyi indigene

    August 5, 2019
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Congolese warlord to pay $10 million reparations to victims

    December 15, 2017
    By alternativeafrica
  • News NowSports

    England born West Brom prodigy, Yusuff Ojebode opts for Nigeria

    June 6, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Cameroon’s President Biya to run for seventh term in office

    July 13, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaBusinessNews Now

    Nigeria: State workers get N27k minimum wage, federal workers 30k

    January 22, 2019
    By alternativeafrica
  • Anne's DiaryEditorialsHealthNews NowWorld

    Milk and mushrooms may prevent metabolic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes

    September 27, 2018
    By alternativeafrica

Leave a reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You might be interested

  • News NowPoliticsWorld

    Drugs Britain: 7 of 11 Prime Minister contenders confess taken drugs before

  • News NowPoliticsWorld

    American professor, Lichtman who predicted Trump victory in 2016 says Biden is next president

  • HealthNews NowWorld

    Trial shows UK Oxford coronavirus vaccine is only 70% effective

Timeline

  • January 16, 2021

    Morocco honours Donald Trump, Jared Kushner

  • January 16, 2021

    Stem cells from umbilical cord show promise in severe covid-19 therapy-Report

  • January 16, 2021

    Be warned, ice cream tests positive for coronavirus in China

  • January 15, 2021

    No change in horizon in Uganda as “lord Museveni” takes early election lead, rival alleges fraud

  • January 15, 2021

    UK opens largest temporary mortuary as high covid deaths continue

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Keynote Address of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at 2018 Oxford Africa Conference

    By PSJ Africa
    May 14, 2018
  • Morocco begins regional integration by connecting Casablanca Airport with High Speed Train

    By alternativeafrica
    January 4, 2020
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • Nigeria: 32,000 capacity Lagos rice mill to start production in 2020

    By alternativeafrica
    December 23, 2019
  • The return of fortress conservation: why excluding people means biodiversity conservation will fail – Future agricultures
    on
    October 16, 2020

    Inside the training camp of Akashinga, Zimbabwe’s armed, all-women anti-poaching rangers

    […] In parallel to ...
  • The return of fortress conservation: why excluding people means biodiversity conservation will fail - The Zimbabwean
    on
    October 12, 2020

    Inside the training camp of Akashinga, Zimbabwe’s armed, all-women anti-poaching rangers

    […] In parallel to ...
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two | taktik(z) GDI (Government Defense ...
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack fol­lowed a January ...
AlternativeAfrica.com is an independent Pan African News Website dedicated primarily to influencing the negative narratives about Africa. We hope to do this by focusing and showcasing the many developmental strides sweeping across the continent.

Read more >>>

Contact Info

  • 22 Laburnum Court, Laburnum Road, Mitcham London, CR4 2NA, United Kingdom
  • +44(0)2036320939 | +44(0)7535019197 | +44(0)7305356327
  • info@alternativeafrica.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Morocco honours Donald Trump, Jared Kushner

    By alternativeafrica
    January 16, 2021
  • Stem cells from umbilical cord show promise in severe covid-19 therapy-Report

    By alternativeafrica
    January 16, 2021
  • Be warned, ice cream tests positive for coronavirus in China

    By alternativeafrica
    January 16, 2021
  • No change in horizon in Uganda as “lord Museveni” takes early election lead, rival alleges ...

    By alternativeafrica
    January 15, 2021
  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Keynote Address of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at 2018 Oxford Africa Conference

    By PSJ Africa
    May 14, 2018
  • Macron in Ivory Coast to launch anti-terrorism academy

    By alternativeafrica
    December 21, 2019
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • The return of fortress conservation: why excluding people means biodiversity conservation will fail – Future agricultures
    on
    October 16, 2020

    Inside the training camp of Akashinga, Zimbabwe’s armed, all-women anti-poaching rangers

    […] In parallel to ...
  • The return of fortress conservation: why excluding people means biodiversity conservation will fail - The Zimbabwean
    on
    October 12, 2020

    Inside the training camp of Akashinga, Zimbabwe’s armed, all-women anti-poaching rangers

    […] In parallel to ...
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...

Photostream

    Follow us

    • Home
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    © Copyright Alternative Africa 2019. All rights reserved.