The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in the ongoing N80.2 billion fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The hearing, which took place on Friday, has now been adjourned to May 8, as Justice Emeka Nwite is set to rule on the admissibility of a controversial judgment linked to the case.
The EFCC accuses Bello of laundering state funds through proxies, allegedly using the money to pay for the education of his children—one of whom hadn’t even been born at the time of payment. The prosecution also claims that he acquired 13 luxury properties in Abuja and Dubai and attempted to conceal over N3 billion through associates.
In court, the EFCC opposed an attempt by Bello’s defense team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu, to introduce a judgment from an Abuja High Court that reportedly quashed some of the allegations. EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that it was premature to present such evidence when the prosecution had not yet closed its case.
During Friday’s proceedings, an internal auditor from the American International School Abuja, where the controversial tuition payments were made, provided detailed testimony. He confirmed that the funds—totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars—came from various companies and individuals, including entities in Uganda and the UAE. However, he stated that neither Yahaya Bello nor his nephew, Ali Bello, was listed as the sender of these transactions.
Despite the weight of the allegations, Bello maintains his innocence. The case continues to attract national attention, with many Nigerians closely watching how the legal battle unfolds.
Stay tuned for more updates as the trial resumes in May.
