 |
| Yahaya Bello. |
The Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged money laundering offences to January 29, 30, and February 4 and 5, 2025.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter on Tuesday to enable the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), to complete the examination of the seventh prosecution witness from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olomotame Egoro.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution attempted to tender documents marked as Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34 while leading Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank, in evidence.
However, the defence counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), objected, arguing that the exhibits being introduced were unfamiliar to the defendant. He further pointed out that the certificate attached to the documents was signed by one Faruk Idiaro rather than the witness in the dock.
In his response, the prosecution lawyer stated that though the certificate of identification appeared different, the attached documents were exactly the same. He requested that the court temporarily stand down the matter so the defence could confirm the documents’ authenticity.
Justice Nwite agreed and allowed both parties time to reconcile the discrepancies before resuming proceedings.
During his testimony, the witness explained the details contained in the seven columns of the account statement tendered as evidence. He analysed transactions in the Kogi State Government House Administration account between December 2018 and August 2021.
Egoro identified several withdrawals, including cash payments totalling N50 million made to one Aminu J.O. in N10 million tranches on December 21, 2018, and other withdrawals by Abdulsalam Hudu on August 1, 2019.
He also reviewed Exhibit 33-8 — the statement of Fazac Business Enterprise between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022 — and highlighted inflows ranging from N4.49 million to N14.45 million from local governments on May 6, 2022. Additional inflows and withdrawals were also noted.
Following the session, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to the newly fixed dates for continuation of trial.
At Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC’s fourth witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, had told the court that withdrawals made by the Kogi State government did not breach any banking regulations. She further confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name was not listed as a beneficiary in the transactions under review.
.jpg)
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!