The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to March 6 and 7, 2025.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello in a case that continued on Monday with testimonies from two prosecution witnesses.
Segun Adeleke, General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, took the stand as the first prosecution witness, detailing property transactions in Maitama and Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Adeleke testified that Yahaya Bello’s name was absent from all transaction documents and that he had never encountered the former governor in person.
“My Lord, in 2020, my chairman, Chief Dr. Fabian Nwora, called me to his office. He introduced me to a young man named Shehu Bello. They had already discussed a property purchase, and my chairman informed me that Shehu intended to make a payment.
“We settled on ₦550 million for the property at Number 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama. Shehu later returned with U.S. dollars. My Lord, we had to verify the exchange rate with a Bureau de Change, and the equivalent of ₦550 million was paid,” Adeleke stated in court.
He further mentioned that he only met Shehu Bello on three occasions—during their introduction, payment processing, and legal documentation finalization. When asked if he was aware of the bank used for the ₦550 million payment, he replied, “No, my Lord.” He also could not recall the exact dollar amount.
Regarding a second property in Gwarinpa, he testified, “House Twelve, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarinpa, was bought by one Nuhu Mohammed for ₦70 million. My Lord, the payment was made in a single bank transfer to our account.”
During cross-examination, defence counsel Joseph Daudu asked Adeleke if he had personally negotiated with Shehu Bello. Adeleke confirmed, “Yes.” When asked if Shehu had signed any documents in his presence, he responded, “He did not, my Lord.”
Daudu also inquired, “At any point in this transaction, did you meet the defendant?”
Adeleke replied, “No, my Lord.” He reaffirmed that Bello’s name did not appear on any records submitted to the EFCC.
The second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), provided testimony under subpoena.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro explained that the subpoena aimed to retrieve four sets of financial documents, including account statements.
Abimbola presented records, including account opening documents and statements, covering the Kogi State Government House account from January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2024. Other records included statements of Macelina Njoku from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, and the American International School, Abuja, from September 1 to September 30, 2020.
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