EFCC Money Laundering Case Against Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Adjourned to March 7
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to March 7 for continuation. The case, brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), resumed on Thursday with the EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), presenting their subpoenaed witness, Williams Abimbola.
Abimbola, a Compliance Officer at United Bank for Africa Plc, confirmed to the court that a subpoena was served on the bank for the production of a statement of account for one Maselina Njoku from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The subpoena was marked as ‘Exhibit 7’ by the court. Abimbola further testified that 10 withdrawals of N10 million each were made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu on December 12, 2018, using cheques presented across the counter.
However, under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), Abimbola admitted that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in the opening or management of the Kogi Government House bank account. She also confirmed that she was not the account officer for the Kogi Government House account, which is domiciled in Lokoja, Kogi State, not Abuja.
Daudu questioned Abimbola regarding her role as a compliance officer and whether it involved protecting the bank’s integrity. She affirmed that it was. When asked about the signatories to the account, Abimbola named the three signatories, but when asked if Yahaya Bello’s name appeared anywhere in the account documents, she answered negatively.
After the cross-examination, the EFCC Counsel sought to re-examine the witness, which was opposed by Daudu, but Justice Nwite allowed it. During re-examination, Pinheiro asked the witness about her familiarity with a signature on a document. Initially disowning the signature, Abimbola later admitted to signing on behalf of Edward Bananga. Daudu objected, citing that the witness had changed her testimony.
In a dramatic exchange, Daudu pointed out a discrepancy in the witness’s testimony and questioned her authenticity regarding the signature. Abimbola admitted, “I am not Edward Bananga, my lord.”
The EFCC then called another witness, Nicholas Ohehomon from the American International School (AIS). He confirmed various documents, including the school’s statements of account, the children’s admission letters, and receipts. A contractual agreement for post-paid school fees for the defendant’s children was marked as Exhibit 12P. The prosecution also presented a letter from the EFCC to AIS, which was marked as Exhibit 18.
The case was adjourned to 10 a.m. on March 7 for the continuation of the trial.
