By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 24, 2025, presented its first round of wit...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 24, 2025, presented its first round of witnesses in the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Among the exhibits presented was the statement of account and account opening package for American International School, Abuja, Account No. 1000684346, covering September 1 to September 30, 2020. These documents were admitted as Exhibits 521-5277, with the statement of account marked as Exhibits 621-622.
Bello faces a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N80.2 billion, allegedly violating Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The EFCC’s first witness, Segun Joseph Adeleke, General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited, testified under examination by EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Adeleke confirmed that a property at House 12, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million via bank transfer. He also revealed that EFAB Properties received N550 million for another transaction, processed following standard company procedures.
When asked about the source of the N70 million transfer, Adeleke admitted he could not identify its origin. Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, Adeleke confirmed he acted on instructions from his Chairman and had no personal involvement in initiating the transactions.
Regarding another property in Ikogosi, Adeleke clarified that the land had one Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and was partitioned into sections labeled 1A and 3B. He also testified that Shehu Bello purchased one of the properties but could not recall the dollar equivalent of the N550 million transaction. Adeleke noted that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any title documents, nor did he see Bello during the transactions.
The EFCC’s second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), stationed at Area 3, Garki, Abuja, confirmed receiving a subpoena from the EFCC and presented a copy in court. The document was admitted as Exhibit 1 without objection from the defence.
The prosecution also tendered the statement of account and account opening package for Kogi State Government House Account No. 1003889575, covering January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2024. These documents were admitted as Exhibits 2P1 to P61.
Following the admission of these exhibits, the court adjourned the trial to March 6 and 7, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.
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