EFCC rest case against Dele Belgore, SAN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday closed its case in the trial of Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN, who was charged with money laundering.

The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the anti-graft agency had decided to rest its case after calling two witnesses and tendering a number of exhibits.

Oyedepo said the anti-graft agency believed it had already established its allegations against Belgore and his co-defendant.

Standing trial along with Belgore is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

The duo were first arraigned on five counts on February 8, 2017 before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The EFCC subsequently amended the charges on two occasions, leading to the re-arraignment of the defendant.

The latest amendment to the charges led to the re-arraignment of the defendants on Tuesday shortly after which the EFCC announced the closure of its case.

In response to the closure of the EFCC’s case, the defence counsel, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), hinted that they would be filing no-case submissions on behalf of their clients.

The trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, adjourned till January 16, 2018 to hear the defendants out.