Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has presented its first round of witnesses in the trial of Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor before Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding judge of Federal High Court in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that EFCC also presented a statement of account and account opening package for American International School, Abuja, Account No. 1000684346, covering September 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020.
Recall that Bello is facing a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion.
The charges violate Section 18(a) and are punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
EFCC’s first witness, Segun Joseph Adeleke, General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited testified under examination by EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
When questioned, Adeleke confirmed that a property located at House 12, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million.
He explained that the payment was made through bank transfer and that his company issued relevant documents, including proof of payment and allocation letters.
Further inquiries revealed that EFAB Properties received N550 million for another transaction. Adeleke stated that the company followed its standard procedure in processing the transaction, including documents signed by its Chairman.
When asked whether he could identify the origin of the N70 million transfer, Adeleke admitted he did not know its source.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, Adeleke confirmed that he acted on instructions from his Chairman and had no personal involvement in initiating the transactions.
He also clarified that the separate land in Ikogosi had one Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and was partitioned into two sections labeled 1A and 3B.
Adeleke stated that his company did not use house numbers or street names but rather plot numbers for documentation purposes.
When asked whether Bello’s name appeared in any title documents or if he ever saw him during the transactions, Adeleke answered in the negative.
The second witness, Williams Abimbola is a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), stationed at Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
When called upon, Abimbola said he received 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. The document was admitted as Exhibits 2P1 to P61.
EFCC also presented the statement of account and account opening package for American International School, Abuja, Account No. 1000684346, covering September 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020.
The court adjourned the trial to March 6 and 7, 2025 for the continuation of proceedings.
