Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos
yesterday granted permission to a former Governorship Candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Dele Belgore
(SAN) to travel Kenya to attend a conference.
Justice Aikawa specifically directed the Court’s Deputy Chief
Registrar (DCR), to release Belgore international passport, to
enable him attend the conference.
The embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister for
National Planning, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman were accused by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering the
sum of N470 million.
The anti-graft agency alleged in the charge that the duo in
2014, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and
directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably
knew to be proceed of crimes.
The two defendants were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015,
transferred the sum of N50 million to some politicians and security
officers in Kwara state, without going through financial
institutions.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Rotimi
Oyedepo, are contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d),1(a), Section
16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012,
and punishable under Section 15(3), 4 and 16(2)(b)of the same
Act.
They however pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
While ruling application filed before the court, by Belgore,
Justice Aikawa ordered that he must returned the traveling document
to the DCR by April 4, or face appropriate action from the
court.
The court had directed that the international passports of the
two accused persons be deposited with the Court’s DCR, as part of
their bail conditions.
In his ruling, Justice Aikawa noted, “the applicant had filed
the application for the release of his international passport, to
enable him attend an international conference in Kenya, and same
was served on the prosecution. But the prosecution did not file any
counter to oppose the application.
“Since the prosecution has failed to file a counter, it is my
belief that the application is deemed properly filed.
“The Deputy Chief Registrar is directed to release the passport
to him to enable him attend the international conference in
Kenya.
“However, the applicant must return the passport by April 4,
failing which appropriate action shall be applied”.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos
yesterday granted permission to a former Governorship Candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Dele Belgore
(SAN) to travel Kenya to attend a conference.
Justice Aikawa specifically directed the Court’s Deputy Chief
Registrar (DCR), to release Belgore international passport, to
enable him attend the conference.
The embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister for
National Planning, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman were accused by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering the
sum of N470 million.
The anti-graft agency alleged in the charge that the duo in
2014, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and
directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably
knew to be proceed of crimes.
The two defendants were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015,
transferred the sum of N50 million to some politicians and security
officers in Kwara state, without going through financial
institutions.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Rotimi
Oyedepo, are contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d),1(a), Section
16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012,
and punishable under Section 15(3), 4 and 16(2)(b)of the same
Act.
They however pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
While ruling application filed before the court, by Belgore,
Justice Aikawa ordered that he must returned the traveling document
to the DCR by April 4, or face appropriate action from the
court.
The court had directed that the international passports of the
two accused persons be deposited with the Court’s DCR, as part of
their bail conditions.
In his ruling, Justice Aikawa noted, “the applicant had filed
the application for the release of his international passport, to
enable him attend an international conference in Kenya, and same
was served on the prosecution. But the prosecution did not file any
counter to oppose the application.
“Since the prosecution has failed to file a counter, it is my
belief that the application is deemed properly filed.
“The Deputy Chief Registrar is directed to release the passport
to him to enable him attend the international conference in
Kenya.
“However, the applicant must return the passport by April 4,
failing which appropriate action shall be applied”.