A former acting chairman of one of Nigeria’s most powerful political factions, the Peoples Democratic Party, was arraigned on corruption charges Tuesday in the Abuja high court. Haliru Mohammed Bello, who was charged with his son, Abbah, pleaded not guilty to all four counts of money laundering and criminal breach of trust, according to local media.
Bello, his son and their realty firm, BAM Projects & Properties Ltd., are accused of fraudulently collecting 300 million naira (about $1.5 million) in March last year. The defendants allegedly accepted the money, which they “claimed to have received for political campaign,” from then-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, according to the Punch.
EFCC prosecutors say the amount was part of some $2 billion in funds earmarked for fighting the Boko Harm insurgency in Nigeria, which Dasuki allegedly diverted. Dasuki, a retired colonel, who is also facing trial, denies any wrongdoing. He was re-arrested on Dec. 30 despite being granted bail by three different courts.
Bello served as the defense minister under Jonathan before he was appointed by the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees as acting chairman.
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