It now a common trend among Nigerian politicians who have been accused of looting the nation’s funds to come up with one ailment or the other in order to gain sympathy from the masses.
Several corruptible political office holders during Goodluck Jonathan’s era as the president have resolved to always coming up with new trick of either having cancer or high blood pressure thereby using it as an opportunity to buy time for themselves before appearing before the court of justice.
Surprisingly, while they were still in office, they tend to be hale and hearty. They were hardly reported to be ill. They appear before Nigerians as agile men.
One of the latest affiliate of the trend is the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello Mohammed, who appeared before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sitting on a wheel chair.
Mr. Bello appeared alongside his son, Abba Bello, following allegations of money laundering leveled against them and their company, BAM projects and Properties Ltd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC had on December 26, 2015 filed a four-count charge of money laundering against the politician and his son for their alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.
Abbah Mohammed is alleged to have received N600m from the office of the National Security Adviser in the name of Bam Properties.
The EFCC has charged several other individuals in connection with the arms money, disbursed from the NSA office.
At the court on Tuesday, Mr. Mohammed and his son pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The former PDP chairman’s counsel prayed the court to grant him bail, so he can attend to his health.
