The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore, for alleged money laundering.

The SAN was arraigned alongside a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja, and Belgore, a former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, were accused of laundering N500m.

The EFCC alleged that the SAN and the don conspired between themselves to commit the offence on March 27, 2015.

The duo were accused of making two separate cash payments of N450m and N50m on March 27, 2015, without going through any financial institution.

The EFCC claimed that the defendants paid the N50m to one Sheriff Shagaya.

The EFCC said the cash sums were above the lawful threshold permitted by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The EFCC claimed that the defendants “ought to have reasonably known that the N450m and N50m formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.”

Belogore and Sulaiman were accused of violating sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The prosecution said they are liable to be punished under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

When the charges were read to them, however, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Justice Aikawa subsequently admitted both Belgore and Sulaiman to bail on self-recognisance.

The judge said he believed that as a senior lawyer in the country, Belgore would not abscond, and Sulaiman, being a former minister in the country, would also not jump bail.

Justice Aikawa, however, ordered both defendants to submit their passports to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, stressing that the passports could only be released to them on the order of the court.

He adjourned till February 23, 2017 for commencement of trial.