Alex Enumah in Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has adjourned hearing in the alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others, to October 8, 9, and November 12, 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned hearing to the above dates in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after the Commission’s third witness tendered several bundles of documents to prove the allegations against the defendants, which included Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Segun Adeleke told the court that he had no dealings with the three defendants throughout the transactions in respect of the property at the center of the case.

The witness who stated this while responding to questions from the defendants’ lawyers confirmed that none of the names of the defendants appeared on any of the transaction documents.

Adeleke, a manager at Efab Property Limited, also told the court that he does not know any of the three defendants.

“This is the first time I am seeing His Excellency (Yahaya Bello) in person, although I have seen him before in print and electronic media but not in any transaction,” he stressed.

Earlier, the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Fabian Nwora, had also earlier confirmed to the court that none of the three defendants in the case paid money into the account of his company, Efab Property Limited.

Nwora, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the company, said he knows the former governor, but maintained that his name did not feature in the transaction being referred to.

He said he opened negotiations on the said property but that the negotiations were concluded by Segun Adeleke, who is the EFCC’s second witness (PW2).

Nwora had, at a previous hearing, testified that he was invited to the EFCC on February 8, 2023, regarding a transaction between Shehu Bello and EFAB Property on a property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, noting it was the said Shehu that approached him for the property.

Adeleke, the PW2, while being examined by the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, reiterated that, in 2020, his chairman, Nwora, gave him the brief of the property, which Shehu Bello showed interest in.

He said the deal was concluded and N500 million paid for the said property.

When the prosecution lawyer asked what happened afterwards, the witness said Shehu Bello returned to their office, with the agreement, to tell his chairman that he was no longer interested in the property as a result of EFCC investigation.

“My chairman said he would revert after consulting with our Company Secretary,” he stated.

The EFCC lawyer also asked about some documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed with respect to a property in the Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The witness confirmed that the documents were issued to the said Nuhu Muhammed after he purchased one of the units of the detached bungalows.

At that point, the Defence Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, objected, saying, “My lord, there is a clear disconnect between the documents sought to be tendered and the foundation laid by the witness himself.”

The Prosecution, however, said the objection was misconceived and it was subsequently overruled by the Judge.

Responding, while being cross-examined by the Defence Counsel, the witness confirmed that he had testified to similar evidence at the Federal High Court before Justice Emeka Nwite.

He admitted that he was brought into the transaction after the process had commenced, that he did not initiate it.

Daudu, told the witness that while giving evidence before Justice Nwite, he had said that funds for the said property at Gwarinpa were transferred at once.

He added that he had now contradicted himself before Justice Anenih by saying it was done in two tranches.

The witness said it was in two tranches and that he had receipts, but admitted later that he did not know the Nuhu Muhammed.

Another witness, on subpoena, Mrs. Williams Abimbola, tendered the statement of account of Kogi State Government House, along with the Certificate of Identification.

The defence counsel said they would speak to the document appropriately in the course of the trial.

Justice Maryann Anenih thereafter adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 12, 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

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