The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged money laundering charges to March 6 and 7, 2025.
Justice Emeka Nwite postponed proceedings after the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), presented two witnesses, including one subpoenaed by the court.
During the hearing, Segun Adelakun, a General Manager at EFAB Properties Limited, testified that Bello’s name did not appear on the ownership documents of two properties under investigation—one located at 1 Ikogosi Road, Maitama, and another in Gwarinpa, Abuja.
“I checked the documents, and the name of Yahaya Bello was not on them,” Adelakun told the court.
He recounted how he was introduced in 2020 to one Shehu Bello by his chairman, Fabian Nwora, regarding the sale of the Maitama property.
When asked if he had seen Shehu Bello after their initial meeting, he said, “Yes, three times—first for the introduction, second for payment, and third when he brought a legal document for the execution of the EFAB property.”
Regarding the Gwarinpa property, Adelakun disclosed that it was purchased for ₦70 million by one Nuhu Mohammed, who made the payment via bank transfer. However, he admitted, “I cannot recall which bank the payment came from.”
During cross-examination, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), pressed Adelakun on his involvement in the transactions.
“Were your actions purely based on instructions from your chairman?” Daudu asked.
“Yes,” Adelakun responded.
“Did you initiate any discussions with Shehu Bello on your own?”
“No,” the witness confirmed.
When asked if he could verify that Shehu Bello signed the transaction documents in his presence, Adelakun said, “No, I did not witness it.”
He further admitted that he never saw Yahaya Bello during the transactions and that the former governor’s name did not appear on any documents.
The prosecution then called its second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa, who appeared in court with a subpoena.
The defence did not object to the subpoena being admitted as evidence, and it was marked as “Exhibit 1.”
Abimbola presented several financial records, including the statement of account for Kogi State Government House from January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2024.
She also listed other documents admitted in evidence, including bank statements for Maselina Njoku for 2022 and account opening records and statements from American International School for September 2020.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2025, for the continuation of trial.
