The Nation learnt yesterday that the decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to delay their arraignment till early next year was informed by Bello’s ill-health....
It was learnt that Bello, who was also a minister for Defence, suddenly took ill few days after the EFCC filed a four-count charge against them and a company – BAM Projects and Properties Limited – before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Bello is said to be hospitalised in an Abuja hospital.
The actual hospital could not be ascertained as at when filing this report.
It was learnt that their arraignment, earlier scheduled for yesterday before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, was put off.
Although a lawyer from the EFCC, Aliyu Yusuf, was in court, the case was not mentioned in open court yesterday.
It has, however, been rescheduled for January 5.
Bello, his son and BAM were accused of receiving N300 million from the office of the National Security Adviser on March 17, 2015 for political campaign under pretext that it was meant for “Safe Houses”.
It was stated in the first count that the N300 million collected by the defendants was part of proceeds of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki’s unlawful activity.
They were, in count two, accused of receiving the N300 million under the guise that it was meant “for ‘Safe Houses” when it was actually released to them for political campaign.
In count three, they were alleged to have concealed the money in their Sterling Bank Plc account when they “knew the said Doctor Aliru Bello and Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd) to be engaged in a criminal conduct”.
They were also accused of conspiring to “launder” the money which they claimed to have received for political campaign when they “reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of the then National Security Adviser.”
The charges read: “That you Bello Abba Mohammed, BAM Projects and Properties Limited and Dr. Haliru Bello on or about March 17, 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.
“That you Bello Abba Mohammed, BAM Projects and Properties Limited and Dr. Haliru Bello on or about 17th March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N300 million which sum was transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the CBN purporting same to be for “Safe Houses” but which you claimed to have for political campaign and 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)…
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