February 24, 2025
By Idris Buba
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud to March 6 and 7, 2025.
The case, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had continued on Monday with testimonies from two prosecution witnesses.
Testifying regarding property transactions in Maitama and Gwarinpa, Abuja, the first witness who is the General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, Segun Adeleke, stated that while he facilitated property sales, he never met Bello, nor did the former governor’s name appear on any transaction documents.
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Adeleke told the court that, “In 2020, while I was in the office, my chairman sent for me. His name is Chief Dr Fabian Nwora. He introduced me to a young man named Shehu Bello. Apparently, they had discussed purchasing a property and my chairman told me that Shehu wanted to make payment.
“We agreed on ₦550 million for the property at Number 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama. When Shehu returned, he came with U.S. dollars. My Lord, we had to confirm the exchange rate from a Bureau de Change, and the equivalent of ₦550 million was paid.”
On another property in Gwarinpa, Adeleke, said “House Twelve, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarinpa, was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for ₦70 million. My Lord, it was a one-off payment via bank transfer to our account.”
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When the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, under cross examination, questioned Adeleke on whether he directly interacted with Yahaya Bello in the course of the transactions. Adeleke responded, “Not at any time in the course of this transaction.”
The second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, UBA, testified under subpoena. He presented bank records, including statements from the Kogi State Government House account (2016-2024) and accounts belonging to Macelina Njoku and the American International School, Abuja.
The court admitted all documents as evidence without objection and adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2025, for further hearing.
