Alleged N450m fraud: Belgore admits receiving funds for campaign coordination in Kwara

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore, standing trial
for N450 million fraud, on Monday told a Federal High Court in
Lagos that he only received fund for the 2015 Election campaign
coordination in Kwara State.

Mr Belgore gave evidence under-cross examination in a money
laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC charged Mr Belgore and a former Minister of National
Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, on nine counts.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were
granted bail.

Mr Belgore, who is a former Campaign Coordinator of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, gave evidence on April 12, while
the court adjourned for cross-examination.

On Monday, Rotimi Oyedepo appeared for the EFCC, Ebun Shofunde
(SAN) appeared for Belgore while Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), announced
appearance for second defendant.

Under-cross examination by Mr Oyetibo, Mr Belgore told the court
that there were fund raising activities by the PDP in the buildup
to the 2015 elections.

He testified that prior to the elections, there were complaints
of insufficient fund by the Kwara PDP, adding that when the fund
eventually arrived in Kwara, it was used specifically for campaign
coordination.

Mr Oyetibo asked: “At the end of the fundraising exercise, money
running into tens of billion was raised by the party?”

Mr Belgore responded in the affirmative.

He also testified that in a presidential election, candidates
were 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 also told the court that there were also ward
collation agents required by every candidate, adding that there
were 193 wards in Kwara.

He told the court that in some areas considered to be
problematic, there were up to three ward collation agents.

According to him, there are 16 local government areas in Kwara
and three senatorial districts.

He said one local government collation agent and a senatorial
district collation agent were required by a presidential candidate
in each council area and senatorial district.

He told the court that besides the agents mentioned, there were
also state collation agents.

He testified that the agents were paid for services rendered, as
well as for 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 the complaints were
communicated to the headquarters.

He said as a state coordinator, he received information on the
fund when it was released.

Defence counsel asked, “Can you recollect the date of the
presidential election?”

The witness replied, “March 28, 2015”.

“So, it is humanly impossible for you and the second defendant
to have distributed the fund across Kwara State between March 26
and March 28?” the counsel asked.

The witness replied, “That’s correct”.

When asked if he or the second defendant collected any part of
the N450 million, he replied, “No”.

On whether he was informed of any other source of the money, he
replied, “No, to the best of my knowledge.”

Referring to counts one to six of the charge – allegations of
alleged conspiracy with a former Petroleum Minister, Diezani
Allison-Madueke – he testified: “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 instructions or
behalf.”

When asked if, after receiving the money he or the second
defendant were informed by anyone that part of the money was
remaining,” he replied, “No.”

Trial will continue on May 15.

In the nine-count charge, the EFCC alleged that Diezani (said to
be at large) conspired with Messrs Belgore and Sulaiman on or about
March 27, 2015, to take possession of the sum of N450 million,
which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds
of unlawful act.

They were also alleged to have taken the said sum in cash, which
exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through the
financial institutions.

(NAN)

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