I’ve No Information That The Money Was Paid On The Instructions Of Allison-Madueke – Belgore SAN | Nairalaw

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore, Tuesday, told a
Federal High in Lagos, that he thought the N450 million was sent
from the 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.

Beogore was being 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 heaquarter 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 N450 million 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 2 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,”

On the allegation that the monies were paid into the a bank
account of these oil marketers, Belgore replied : “I have no
information as regards that fact.

“ It is not a fact within my knowledge at the material time, and
it has not been a fact within my knowledge ever since,”

Asked of his reaction to PW 1 and PW2 claim that the money was
paid out on the instructions of Diezani Allison -Madueke,

The defendant said that as a matter fact, it was during
investigations in November 2016, that he first heard from Pw2 that
the said funds did not come from the presidential campaign
headquarters, as he was made to believe.

He said “Until this time, no one, other than Pw2 and maybe Pw1,
has told me that the N450 million did not come from the fund
raising activity conducted by the presidential campaign
organisation,”

Earlier, the defence had exhibited before the court, two CCTV
footages of the bank, which were displayed for about two and half
hours in court.

But Belgore told the court that he was not in the footage.

He had said “I also note that in the video, there were various
scenes or snap shots of different places, presumably different
parts of the bank, but I did not see myself in the first video and
also did not see myself in the second video.’’

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

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)