The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, re-arraigned former Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) national Chairman Bello Mohammed at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Pageone confirmed that Mohammed was re-arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on a four-count charge bordering on his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). He was arraigned alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Limited, for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering. Recall that Dasuki served as NSA under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. While the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is the complainant in the amended charge, Bam Projects and Properties Limited and Bello Haliru Mohammed are the first and second defendants. The amended charge was dated and filed on March 18 by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). When the matter was called yesterday, the lawyer who appeared for anti-graft agency, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the matter was for the defendants to take their pleas and that he was ready to proceed. He said an amended charge had been filed and the defence had been served. The lawyer to the defendants, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), confirmed the receipt of the amended charge. After the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts and Atolagbe applied for a trial date. Agabi prayed the court to allow Mohammed to remain on existing bail granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed. Although Atolagbe did not oppose Agabi’s application, he argued that the defendant’s bail was once revoked for breaching the terms. Justice Lifu, who admitted Mohammed to the bail earlier granted by a sister court, adjourned the matter till May 7 and May 8 for trial.