The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arraigned former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,’s Chairman, Bello Mohammed, before an Abuja High Court.
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 the ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd, for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Dasuki served as NSA during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.
While the Federal Republic is the complainant in the amended charge, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd and Bello Haliru Mohammed are 1st and 2nd defendants.
When the matter was called, yesterday, lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the matter was for the defendants to take their plea and that he was ready to proceed.
He said an amended charge had been filed and the defence had been served.
Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, the defendants’ lawyer, 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, however, prayed the court to allow Mohammed continue on existing bail granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The senior lawyer said that Mohammed did not flout the earlier bail conditions granted him and that he would not jump bail.
Although Atolagbe did not oppose Agabi’s application, he argued that his 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 until May 7 and May 8 for trial.