The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to January 29, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conclude the testimony of its seventh prosecution witness (PW-7), Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc.
The EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had sought to tender documents marked Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34 while leading the witness in evidence. However, Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, counsel to the defendant, objected, arguing that the documents were not part of the proof of evidence served on the defence and that the certificate of identification attached to them was signed by Faruk Idiaro, not the witness in the box.
In response, Pinheiro maintained that although the certificate of identification differed, the documents themselves were the same. The court briefly stood down proceedings to allow both parties reconcile the discrepancy.
Upon resumption, Egoro testified that the account statements of the Kogi State Government House Administration from December 2018 to August 2021 showed multiple cash withdrawals, including ₦50 million paid to one Aminu J.O. in tranches of ₦10 million each, and other withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu.
The witness also reviewed Exhibit 33-8, a statement belonging to Fazac Business Enterprise, identifying several inflows from Kogi local governments between May 6 and 9, 2022, ranging from ₦4.49 million to ₦14.45 million.
After hours of proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to January 29, January 30, February 4, and February 5, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
It would be recalled that on Monday, the EFCC’s fourth witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, testified that withdrawals by the Kogi State Government did not violate any banking laws and that Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the accounts presented by the anti-graft agency.
