Date: 2017-05-08

Former People Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirants, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi has condemned the ongoing trial of a fellow ex-governorship aspirant of the party in Kwara State, Dele Belgore (SAN) and former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

They were arraigned for an alleged laundering of the sum of N500 million, meant for the 2015 general elections are being tried before Justice Muhammed Aikawa, by EFCC on a five count-charge.

Belgore and Suleiman, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations, were alleged to have committed the offence on March 27, 2015 which the EFCC said is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

But Ajadi yesterday said that the charge against the two PDP chieftains was baseless saying it is a part of the prank from the ruling government to cause confusion in the party against the forthcoming election.

According to him, they didn't steal the money, it was meant for the election logistic and it was used for that purpose.

"They deliver the money to the state during the elections, we have 193 wards in Kwara state and the money was spread across the wards for the logistic of the poll. They didn’t steal a kobo from the money. Standing trial before EFCC is a normal persecution of the opposition" Ajadi said. At the resume hearing on Tuesday, the trial was stalled due to the absence of the lead prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

Also, the defence Counsel filed the application seeking to terminate the proceedings on the grounds that the prosecution did not file an affidavit to show, the prosecution had not completed investigation. The trial was however adjourned to 31st of May this year.