By Ayomide Otitoju
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, Abuja.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦80.2 billion. The charges are in violation of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
As part of the evidence tendered, the EFCC presented financial records, including the statement of account and account opening package for American International School, Abuja (Account No. 1000684346), covering transactions from September 1 to September 30, 2020. The court admitted these as Exhibits 521-5277, while the statement of account was marked as Exhibits 621-622.
EFCC’s First Witness Testifies
The prosecution’s first witness, Segun Joseph Adeleke, General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited, testified under examination by EFCC lead counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
Adeleke confirmed that a property located at House 12, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was purchased for ₦70 million by one Nuhu Mohammed. He explained that payment was made via bank transfer and that EFAB Properties issued the necessary documents, including proof of payment and allocation letters.
He further revealed that EFAB Properties received ₦550 million for another transaction and followed standard procedures, with all relevant documents signed by the company’s chairman. However, when asked if he could identify the source of the ₦70 million transfer, Adeleke admitted he did not know.
Under cross-examination by defense counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, Adeleke stated that he acted on instructions from his chairman and had no personal involvement in initiating the transactions. Regarding another property in Ikogosi, he clarified that it had a single Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and was divided into two sections labeled 1A and 3B.
Adeleke also testified that Shehu Bello purchased one of the properties but could not recall the dollar equivalent of the ₦550 million transaction. He stated that legal documents were prepared by EFAB Properties and sent to Bello for his signature, but the signed copies were never returned. He confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear on any title documents and that he never saw him in person during the transactions.
Second Witness Takes the Stand
The EFCC then called its second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA) stationed at Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
Abimbola confirmed receiving a subpoena from the EFCC and presented a copy in court, which was admitted as Exhibit 1 without objection from the defense.
The prosecution also tendered the statement of account and account opening package for Kogi State Government House (Account No. 1003889575), covering transactions from January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2024. These documents were admitted as Exhibits 2P1 to P61.
Additionally, the court accepted financial records for American International School, Abuja (Account No. 1000684346), covering September 1 to September 30, 2020. These were admitted as Exhibits 521-5277, with the statement of account marked as Exhibits 621-622.
Following the admission of these exhibits, the trial was adjourned to March 6 and 7, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.
