The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore at the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos.

Mr Belgore, a PDP Chieftain who vied for the party’s governorship ticket in the last Kwara State Election, was arraigned on a 5 count charge alongside the immediate past Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

They were both arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa. The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and their lawyers made a request for bail.

The two defendants were granted bail on self recognizance, but the judge asked them to deposit their passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

Justice Aikawa has adjourned till Feb 23, 2017 for trial.

In the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television’s Judiciary Correspondent, Shola Soyele, the two defendants are said to have conspired on March 27, 2015 to directly take possession of 450 million Naira, a sum which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

They are also charged with being in possession of the sum and making a cash payment of 50 million Naira to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC says the charges are contrary to and punishable under certain sections of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012.