EFCC Arraigns Former PDP Chair Over N300m Fraud

Haliru Bello
Haliru Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, today, arraigned the former ‎National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Bello‎ and his son Abba, before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The duo were arraigned on a four-count criminal charge bordering on alleged N300 million fraud, alongside a firm, BAM Projects and Properties Limited.

The EFCC alleged that the embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd, through the firm, withdrew the sum of N300m from an account the ‎Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and transferred same to the accused persons, 11 days to the 2015 presidential election.

Both Bello and his Son, pleaded not guilty to ‎the charge.

One of the charges against them read: “‎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 N300million 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”.‎

Bello was on a wheel chair‎‎ when he appeared at the court.