The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further hearing on the 19-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to May 8.
Trial Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to rule on the EFCC’s objection to the admissibility of a judgment from an Abuja High Court. The judgment relates to allegations that Bello, through proxies, wired funds into the account of the American International School to cover future tuition fees for his four children. The EFCC alleged that the funds were drawn from the Kogi State Government coffers and that the defendant also paid for a fifth child not yet born.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, Bello’s counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, sought to tender a copy of the judgment that reportedly quashed the allegations. However, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected, arguing that the document could not be tendered at this stage of the proceedings.
Pinheiro contended that, under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, only a previous written statement of the witness could be tendered to contradict or challenge their current testimony. He emphasized that the defense must wait until the prosecution closes its case before introducing such evidence.
Daudu, on the other hand, argued that the judgment was relevant to the case, citing Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to rule on the admissibility of the document.
Earlier, the third prosecution witness, Mr. Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School Abuja, testified that all funds transferred into the school’s account were done via Telex. He confirmed that the payments were made by third parties, including Forza Oil and Gas, Aleshua Solutions Services, and Unnati General Trading LLC, for the benefit of Bello’s four children.
Ojehomon also confirmed that none of the receipts issued by the school were in the name of Yahaya Bello or his nephew, Ali Bello, but rather in the names of the children.
Bello, who served as Kogi State governor from 2016 to 2024, is facing trial over his alleged involvement in an N80.2 billion fraud. The EFCC alleges that he used proxies to acquire 13 choice properties in Abuja and Dubai with proceeds of crime. The agency also accused him of attempting to conceal over N3 billion by handing the funds to proxies and wiring over $700,000 to a U.S. bank account in violation of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
The former governor has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail pending the determination of the case.
