The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to March 6 and 7, 2025.
The trial, initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), resumed on Monday with testimonies from two prosecution witnesses.
Property Transactions Under Scrutiny
The first witness, Segun Adeleke, General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, testified about property transactions in Maitama and Gwarinpa. He stated that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear on any transaction documents and that he had never met the former governor.
Adeleke recounted a 2020 property sale involving Shehu Bello, whom he was introduced to by his chairman, Chief Dr. Fabian Nwora. He explained that a property at Number 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama, was sold for ₦550 million, with payment made in U.S. dollars after confirming the exchange rate with a Bureau de Change.
Regarding another property in Gwarinpa, Adeleke stated that House Twelve, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, was purchased by Nuhu Mohammed for ₦70 million, with a one-time bank transfer.
During cross-examination, the defense counsel, Joseph Daudu, asked if Adeleke had ever met Bello in connection to the transactions. He responded, “Not at any time in the course of this transaction.” He also confirmed that Bello’s name was absent from all documents submitted to the EFCC.
Bank Records Submitted as Evidence
The second prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified under a subpoena. He submitted financial records, including:
- Kogi State Government House account statements (January 1, 2016 – January 31, 2024)
- Account statements of Macelina Njoku (January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022)
- American International School, Abuja account records (September 1 – September 30, 2020)
The documents were admitted as evidence without objection.
Following these testimonies, the court adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2025, for further proceedings.
By Abigail Philip David
