Belgore, Suleiman not thieves – Kwara PDP

The chairman of the PDP in Kwara State, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, has described as unfounded and malicious, claims that former governorship aspirant, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and a former minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, diverted the party’s 2015 campaign funds for their personal use.

Speaking at the weekend, Oyedepo said Belgore, then Kwara coordinator for the reelection campaign of expresident Jonathan, and the a ex-minister only received the campaign money on behalf of the party in their capacity as intermediaries. He said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Lagos, against the backdrop of recent arraignment of the duo at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N470 million proceeds of crimes.

Both Sulaiman and Belgore were granted bail on selfrecognition while the case resumes on February 23.

However, the state PDP chairman said the claims by the EFCC against Belgore and the ex-minister were politicallymotivated since the duo could not have asked the party the source of campaign fund given to them as campaign helmsmen in Kwara, especially when the president did a fundraiser where he realized over N21 billion.

According to the party chief, Belgore and Prof. Suleiman correctly declared and handed over the N450 million they received for campaign at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin, which was attended by top party chieftains, adding that the allegation of theft was an attempt to cripple the PDP.