The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to January 29, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings
Justice Emeka Nwite postponed the case to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) seventh prosecution witness, Olomotame Egoro, to complete his testimony. Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, was being led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
During Tuesday’s session, Pinheiro sought to tender documents labeled as Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34. However, Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), objected, arguing that the exhibits were not previously disclosed to the defence and that the certificate of identification attached to the documents was signed by one Faruk Idiaro, rather than the witness in the box. Yahaya contended that the documents differed from the proof of evidence served on the defendant.
Responding, Pinheiro maintained that while the certificate’s signatory may differ, the substantive documents remained the same. He requested a brief stand-down to enable both parties to verify that the documents tendered corresponded with those referenced in the certificate.
After a short break, the court directed both parties to reconcile their differences before proceedings resumed. Egoro then continued his testimony, explaining the details of an account statement belonging to the Kogi State Government House Administration between December 2018 and August 2021.
He identified several large cash transactions, including ₦50 million paid to one Aminu J.O. on December 21, 2018, in ₦10 million tranches, and multiple withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu on August 1, 2019.
The witness also examined Exhibit 33-8, a statement from Fazac Business Enterprise covering January 2019 to December 2022. He confirmed several inflows from Kogi local governments, ranging between ₦4.49 million and ₦14.45 million on May 6, 2022, as well as subsequent deposits of ₦7.12 million and ₦9.4 million on May 9, 2022.
After several hours of proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to January 29 and 30, and February 4 and 5, 2026, for continuation.
It will be recalled that on Monday, the EFCC’s fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, testified that the fund withdrawals by the Kogi State Government did not breach any banking laws. Bata also reiterated that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the transactions presented by the anti-graft agency.
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