The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in the alleged money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite, who presides over the matter, fixed January 29, 30, and February 4 and 5, 2025, for the continuation of the trial. The adjournment allows the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), to conclude the examination of the EFCC’s seventh witness.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Tuesday’s proceedings began with the prosecution tendering several documents marked as Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34 while leading its witness, Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, in evidence. However, the defence counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), objected, arguing that the document being demonstrated was not known to the defendant.
Yahaya also noted that the certificate attached to the tendered document was signed by Faruk Idiaro, not the witness in court, and insisted that the document differed from what was served on the defendant.
Responding, Pinheiro maintained that while the certificate of identification may differ, the documents themselves remained the same. He asked the court to stand down the matter briefly to allow the defence to confirm this. Justice Nwite granted the request, and both parties reconciled the documents before the hearing resumed.
The witness, Egoro, explained the seven columns contained in the Kogi State Government House Administration account statement, covering December 2018 to August 2021. He identified several transactions, including a ₦50 million cash payment made in tranches to one Aminu J.O on December 21, 2018, and multiple withdrawals of ₦10 million each in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu on August 1, 2019.
The prosecution also presented Exhibit 33-8 — the statement of account belonging to Fazac Business Enterprise — showing inflows from Kogi State local governments between January 2019 and December 2022. Egoro confirmed inflows between ₦4.49 million and ₦14.45 million on May 6, 2022, and additional transfers on May 9, 2022, from different local governments.
Justice Nwite then adjourned the case to January 29, 30, and February 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.
As reported by Mediaplusng.com, during the previous day’s hearing, the EFCC’s fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, confirmed that the fund withdrawals made by the Kogi State Government did not breach any banking law. She also clarified that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the transactions presented before the court.
