The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has adjourned the ₦110 billion money laundering trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to November 12, 2025.
The adjournment came after the court heard the testimony of the sixth prosecution witness, Ms. Victoria Oluwafemi, a Compliance Officer with Polaris Bank. She revealed that as of November 2021, the Kogi State Government House Account held a credit balance of ₦450 million, with several withdrawals of ₦10 million each made by different individuals.
During cross-examination, Bello’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), pressed Oluwafemi on the details of the transactions. The witness admitted she was not the account officer or relationship manager for the said accounts and therefore could not explain the purpose of the withdrawals. She also confirmed that Abdulsalam Hudu, one of Bello’s co-defendants, was not listed in any of the bank documents presented.
Bello’s legal team objected to the EFCC’s move to tender a 218-page statement of account belonging to Alusha Services through another witness, Msheila Arhyel B, claiming it failed to meet the admissibility standards set by the Evidence Act. However, Justice Maryann Anenih overruled the objection and admitted the document as Exhibit P1.
The witness further disclosed that the account recorded several ₦10 million withdrawals, transactions totaling ₦707 million, and dollar transfers of $2,500 and $5,000 to certain individuals.
Justice Anenih then adjourned the case for the continuation of the witness’s cross-examination.
Bello, who served as Kogi State Governor from 2016 to 2024, is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the trio allegedly diverted state funds to purchase luxury properties in Abuja and Dubai, worth several billions of naira.
The former governor was earlier remanded in Kuje Prison before being granted ₦500 million bail, with three sureties in like sum.
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