A court has on Thursday, adjourned the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore and a former Minister for National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman who were alleged of N470 million money laundering charges, to 13th of March, 2017.

The judge, Justice Ramat Aikawa was forced to adjourn the trial due to the absence the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Rotimi Oyedepo.

Belgore, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain who contested the governorship election in Kwara State in 2015 and the former Minister, who served during President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration were arraigned on a five count charge before Justice R.M. Aikawa.

The EFCC alleged 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 one Sheriff Shagaya, 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.

The two defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Justice Aikawa adjourned the case after a lawyer from the EFCC office, Nkeruwem Anana informed that Oyedepo was unable to make it to court as his vehicle broke down on the way to court.

Anana also told the court that the first prosecution witness coming from Ekiti was still on his way. He therefore urged Justice Aikawa to stand the case down for a short moment for Oyedepo and the witness to arrive.

However, Belgore’s counsel, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), opposed the application for a short stand down, saying he had another matter for the day, adding that the court could not wait for a witness who was on his way. He said the court should rather adjourn the case.

The second defence counsel, O. Ayanlaja (SAN), aligned himself with Shofunde, noting that his client came all the way from Abuja to attend his trial in Lagos and the prosecution should show seriousness.

After listening to the parties, Justice Aikawa held that he would not stand down the case to wait for a witness in just one case when there were 29 cases on his cause list for the day.

The judge charged the prosecution to show more seriousness so that the matter could be disposed of as soon possible. The court then adjourned the case till March 13 and 14 for definite trial.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March, 2015, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to directly take possession of the N450, 000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.

Count two reads: “That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly took possession of  the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira ) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.

And count three reads: “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March,2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: making cash payment of the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law without going through financial institution and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b),16(2)(b) of the same Act.

And count four reads: “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through financial institution, made cash payment in the sum of N450, 000, 000.00 (Four hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

While count five reads: That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March,2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without going through financial institution made cash payment of the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) to one Sheriff Shagaya which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act”.