The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, until January 29 for continuation of trial.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) seventh prosecution witness (PW-7), Olomotame Egoro, who was being led in evidence by the agency’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), to conclude his testimony.

When the case was called for continuation, Pinheiro sought to tender documents marked as Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34 while leading the witness in evidence.

However, counsel to the former governor, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), objected, noting that the exhibits presented by the prosecution and its witness were not known to the defendant.

He further argued that the certificate of identification attached to the documents before the court was signed by one Faruk Idiaro, and not by the witness in the box. Yahaya added that the proof of evidence served on the defendant was not the same as the documents being tendered.

In response, Pinheiro stated that although the certificate of identification might differ, the substantive documents attached to it were the same. He then urged the court to stand down the matter to enable the defence team to verify that the documents referred to in the certificate were indeed the ones tendered.

The court briefly stood down the matter and directed the parties to resolve their differences.]

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When the case resumed, PW-7 Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, continued his testimony.

While being led in evidence-in-chief by Pinheiro, Egoro confirmed that the statement of account tendered contained seven columns and explained the purpose of each.

He was then taken through the account statement of the Kogi State Government House Administration from December 2018 to August 2021.

The witness identified cash payments made on December 21, 2018, to one Aminu J.O., totalling ₦50 million, paid in tranches of ₦10 million each. He also pointed out withdrawals in multiples of ₦10 million made in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu on August 1, 2019.

The prosecution further asked the witness to examine Exhibit 33-8 — a statement of Fazac Business Enterprise — covering January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.

Egoro identified inflows ranging from ₦4.49 million to ₦14.45 million from local governments in the state on May 6, 2022. He also confirmed two additional inflows , ₦7.12 million and ₦9.4 million ,  from two local government areas on May 9, 2022, as well as withdrawals from the same account.

After several hours of proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to January 29 and 30, 2026, as well as February 4 and 5, 2026, for continuation of trial.

It would be recalled that the EFCC’s fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, had on Monday reaffirmed that the fund withdrawals by the Kogi State Government did not breach any banking law.

Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, stated this while being cross-examined by the defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

She also reiterated that the name of the former governor did not appear as a beneficiary in the account presented as evidence by the anti-graft agency.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE