Trial Of Former PDP Chairman Adjourned Till June 5

Trial Of Former PDP Chairman Adjourned Till June 5

Justice A.R. Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned
the trial of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
Haliru Bello and his son, Bello Abba Mohammed to June 5, 2019 for
continuation of trial.

Bello, his son, Mohammed and their company, Bam Projects and
Properties Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly receiving the sum of N300 million
from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col.
Sambo Dasuki (retd.). They are facing a four-count charge bordering on
money laundering.

One of the charges reads: “‎That you, Bello Abba Mohammed, Bam
Projects and Properties Ltd and Dr. Haliru Bello on or about 17th March
2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took
possession of the sum of N300 million paid into the account of BAM
Projects and Properties Limited with Sterling Bank Plc from the account
of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the CBN when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the
proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd),
the then National Security Adviser (to wit: criminal breach of trust and
corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in
2012 and punishable under Section (15) (3) of the same Act.”

At the resumed hearing on April 10, 2019 the prosecuting counsel,
O.A. Atolagbe informed the court that the prosecution was ready with its
witnesses, but that he received a call from the defence team that the
defence counsel, Solomon Umeh, SAN, will not be in court for the day’s
proceeding.

“I was informed that he is at the Court of Appeal, Jos and could not be able to make it, here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Barth Ogar, counsel for Bello, applied for medical leave
on behalf of his client to enable him attend to his health between April
and May. The prosecution raised no objections, but urged the court to
grant the application on the condition that the defendant will make
himself available on the next adjourned date.

The court then mandated Bello to file an affidavit stating that he will be available for trial.