The confirmation is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, on Thursday in Gusau.

Abubakar said that the CP made the disclosure during a condolence visit to the affected community.

Bello said that on Tuesday, armed bandits on no fewer than 50 motorcycles invaded the community at 5:55 p.m., and the Police Strike Unit immediately responded, killing 11 bandits and injuring several others.

He added that during the exchange of fire, two police personnel and three civilians lost their lives, while one police officer sustained injuries and was currently receiving treatment.

He commiserated with the families of the deceased and the entire community over the unfortunate incident.

He also reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the security architecture and restoring lasting peace and normalcy in the area.

He further urged the public to always support security agencies with credible and reliable information.

Source: NAN

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The post Police confirm bandits killing of two policemen, three others appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, also convicted Bello of paying tax of N20, 000 to Boko Haram contrary to Section 21 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

Justice Nyako, who found Bello guilty of the offence after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, ordered that the sentencing shall run concurrently.

The federal government in the charge, marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/563/2026, sued Bello as sole defendant.

In count one, Bello of Mantari Village in the Bama local government area of Borno was alleged to have in 2023, rendered support by facilitating Nigerian currency notes of N750, 000 to Boko Haram contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013, and punishable under the same act.

In count two, he was accused to have paid a N20, 000 tax to the terrorist organisation contrary to Section 21 of Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

Bello, who pleaded guilty to the charge, begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Nyako ordered that Bello be rehabilitated and deradicalised.

In another case involving Hamat Modu, who pleaded guilty to being a member of Boko Haram group, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years jail term in each of the four counts bordering on terrorism offences, following his guilty plea.

The judge, who directed that the counts must run concurrently, also ordered that Modu should undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation.

Also, Isah Ali, who was 18-year-old at the time of his arrest, pleaded not guilty to count one but pleaded guilty to count two of the two-count charge.

M. Jibo, lawyer to the federal government, applied that the court should strike out count one and accordingly convict Ali in count two.

She urged the court to also admit his confessional statement and investigation report as exhibits.

Ali, while pleading for mercy, said he was young when he was drafted into the terror group.

The defence lawyer, Aliyu Abubakar, the Director General, Legal Aid Council, also pleaded for mercy.

“The defendant was 18 years when he was arrested and had been in detention since three years now.

“It is another case of terrorism by association. We pleaded that the court should take this into consideration in sentencing him,” he begged.

Justice Nyako, who struck out count one, sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment in count two and ordered for his rehabilitation and deradicalisation.

The judge, in another case, sentenced Shehu Bukar to 20 years imprisonment in count three in which he pleaded guilty out of the five counts preferred against him.

Count three accused him of rendering support as livestock rustler by selling goats to Boko Haram group contrary to Section 5 of Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

Bukar, however, pleaded not guilty to other counts, including count two where he was alleged to have participated in a terrorist attack at Konduga in Borno where scores of people were killed.

A 43-year-old Alhaji Kulle was sentenced to a five-year jail term in count one and three of the three-count terrorism charge which must run concurrently.

The prosecution had, in the count three, accused Kulle of paying the sum of N6,000 to Boko Haram weekly, knowing that the money would be used to finance terrorism activities.

Justice Nyako equally jailed Tasiu Yakubu seven years in a one-count charge preferred against him by the federal government.

The AGF and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led other lawyers including Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions, in the trial, tendered Yakubu’s confessional statement and investigation report as evidence before the court, urging the court to convict Yakubu in accordance with the law.

Abubakar, DG of Legal Aid, did not object but prayed the court to temper justice with mercy since the defendant had been remorseful.

But Fagbemi argued that based on Section 5 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, Yakubu ought to be given 20 years imprisonment though his sentencing might run from his date of arrest.

According to him, sentencing guidelines must follow what the law says.

After listening to the parties, Justice Nyako sentenced Yakubu to seven years jail term from the date of his arrest and ordered for his rehabilitation and deradicalisation.

In another development, Justice Nyako sentenced Abdullahii Ali to a 20-year imprisonment in a one-count charge filed against him.

Ali, who was alleged to have rendered support to the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, by assisting through logistic supply of fuel to the terror group, admitted committing the offence.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 13 and 13(b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

Fagbemi urged the court to sentence him in accordance with the law.

The judge, in his judgment, sentenced Ali to 20-year jail term beginning from November 20, 2023, which was the date of his arrest.

Source: NAN

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The post Boko Haram: How court sentenced terrorists in Abuja trial appeared first on Frontpageng.

The appointment, which is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within, will further strengthen the bank’s executive management.

Okwudili graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Accounting in 1998 from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, with a Second Class Upper division.

He obtained a Masters of Business Administration, MBA, from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria in 2008 and a Masters of Science in Accounting from Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria in 2021.

Okwudili has over twenty-five years of cognate banking experience spanning credit and marketing, treasury, compliance as well as operations and had at different times worked in various zones and departments of the bank.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, 2013, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, 2024 and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, 2016.

He has attended several Executive Education Programmes both within and outside the country, including: Senior Leadership Development Programme at the Lagos Business School, Corporate Directorship Programme at the Harvard Business School and Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford, SAID Business School.

He is currently the President of Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria, CBAN, and a member of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International, KSJI.

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The post Zenith Bank appoints Okwudili as Executive Director appeared first on Frontpageng.

Bello also extended his warm greetings to all Muslim brothers and sisters across Nigeria and beyond, as well as his friends, associates, and supporters, for their steadfastness, devotion, and spiritual discipline throughout the Ramadan fast.

He commended their commitment to the values of sacrifice, patience, charity, and unity which the holy month embodies.

He urged all Nigerians to continue to uphold the virtues of peace, love, tolerance, and national cohesion, which he described as essential for the progress and stability of our dear country.

He offered prayers for renewed strength, wisdom, and divine guidance for the president as he continues to steer the affairs of the nation.

He also prayed for enduring peace, unity, and prosperity for all Nigerians.

Bello specially prayed for the good people of Osun State and the entire Ede community, asking Almighty Allah to grant them continued harmony, growth, and development.

He further sought divine blessings upon the revered Timi of Ede, praying for wisdom, long life, and a peaceful reign.

“Eid Mubarak to all Muslim faithful. May this season bring abundant joy, blessings, and renewed hope to our nation,” he prayed.

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A prosecution witness has said that no Power of Attorney was presented on behalf of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, or the second defendant, Shuaib Oricha, for a property under investigation.

James Igbakuleh, who is the 11th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the former governor and two others, added that he was also seeing the former governor for the fourth time.

“The first time was on Monday at the Federal High Court, then Tuesday, yesterday and today at the FCT High Court,” Igbakuleh, a legal practitioner, said.

He said, during cross-examination by the Defendants’ Counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, that he never met the defendants throughout the transaction.

He told the court that it was one Shehu Bello that contacted him after his client, SFC Foods Limited, approached him to sell the property, located at Adetokunbo Ademola, in Wuse 2, sometime in 2021.

The witness said, during his examination-in-chief, that the payment for the said property was made into three designated accounts as instructed by his client.

He noted that, about 10 months after the conclusion of transactions, he was invited by one Mohammed at the EFCC, who said the agency was investigating a matter and that his name had featured prominently.

The legal practitioner was then shown a counter offer, deed of assignment and sales agreement, which he identified.

The counter offer and deed of assignment, addressed to Shehu Bello, were admitted in evidence and marked AV1 and AV2, respectively.

During cross-examination, the witness said he had practised law for 28 years.

He admitted that the person who contacted him, Shehu Bello, did not present any power of attorney on behalf of the 1st and 2nd defendants.

According to him, the deed of assignment was not also signed by all parties to the transaction.

“Confirm that AV2 (deed of assignment) was not signed by the purchaser,” Daudu SAN told the witness.

“It was not signed. I signed my portion and gave it to them,” he responded.

The witness also confirmed that he was not the one that prepared Exhibit AV2 and that he did not sign it in the presence of the purchaser.

Earlier, the 10th Prosecution Witness told the court that none of the lodgments or withdrawals, in the account before the court, were made by the third defendant, Abdulsalam Hudu.

The witness, Olomotane Egoro, said, during the continuation of cross-examination by Counsel to the 3rd defendant, Zakari Abbas, that he could not also say whether the medical items, which the payment from Okehi local government was meant for, were supplied or not.

The witness’ attention was drawn to Exhibit AO, but he confirmed that the account opening package was not before the court.

He also admitted that he was not in a position to tell the court the signatories to the account.

Also, on Exhibit AJ, he said the defendant was not one of the depositors.

The prosecution also called its 12th witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, Chief Accountant at Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited.

The witness, during his examination-in-chief by EFCC Counsel, Kayode Enitan, SAN, identified a property on Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa 2, in Abuja, as land sold to Azbar Real Estate Limited on February 17, 2021.

He said the payment for the land was done in three tranches, adding that the deed of assignment and power of attorney were signed by Mubarak Dantata and Nasir Dantata for Dantata and Sawoe, while Ali Bello signed for Azbar Real Estate.

Prosecution then sought to tender the power of attorney and deed of assignment evidencing the transaction.

But Paul Daudu SAN objected.

He said, “I will be objecting based on Section 104 of the Evidence Act. The documents are public documents.

“I have examined the stamps on the documents. There was no indication of compliance on fee for certification.”

He noted that the defence counsels would withdraw their objections if the prosecution could provide the receipt.

The 3rd Defendant’s Counsel, Abbas, aligned with Daudu, SAN.

Prosecution counsel agreed with the counsel that they were public documents but argued that they had been duly certified by the officers in whose custody they were.

He told Justice Maryann Anenih that the first Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had raised the same objection before the Federal High Court.

“Justice Emeka Nwite ruled and dismissed it. I urge the court to overrule those objections so that we can proceed,” Enitan SAN said.

The Defendant’s Counsel, however, argued that the question raised was not part of the decision before Justice Nwite.

In her ruling, Justice Anenih dismissed the objection and marked the Deed of Assignment as Exhibit AW1; and the Power of Attorney, as Exhibit AW2.

During cross-examination, Abdulazeez told the court that he had worked with Sawoe Construction Company for over nine years.

He confirmed that there was no amount stated in the document for the purchase of the property in question.

He was asked if, in the financial documents in Ehibit Z1, there was anywhere the name Ali Bello was mentioned.

“No,” the witness responded.

He confirmed that the 1st and 2nd defendants were also not listed as beneficiaries.

The EFCC then called its 13th witness, a legal practitioner with 21 years experience, who admitted knowing a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama.

The witness, Yakubu Haruna, admitted knowing one Palchi Nigeria Limited and the name Farouk Mustapha.

He said Palchi was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and that Farouk Mustapha was a shareholder and Director in the company.

He said negotiation on the property in question was done on behalf of White Tree Limited by one Barrister Ramalan Abdulahi.

The witness claimed that the deed of assignment and power of attorney were prepared in the name of Palchi Nigeria Limited as the donor, and White Tree Nigeria Limited as the donee.

He also claimed that the exchange of documents and payment for the said property were done in the office of one Murtala Maigari.

The witness maintained that he would not know the shareholders of the said company and that the defendants were not part of the transaction before the court.

He said he was meeting the former governor for the first time on Thursday.

Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, called the 14th witness, an internal auditor with the American International School, Abuja, who said he had previously given evidence at the Federal High Court with respect to a case involving the first defendant.

He admitted knowing the defendant as a parent at AISA.

The prosecution sought to present some documents, including admission letters, email correspondence between the school and Ali Bello and the school’s statements of account, among others.

The defendants’ counsels objected but said they would provide their reasons at the address stage.

The exhibits were therefore admitted and marked AX4 to AX7.

The witness confirmed payments from Forza Oil and Gas Limited and Whales Oil and Gas Limited into the school’s account in favour of four students with the surname, “Bello”.

The payments ranged from $11,000 to $49,600 into different accounts belonging to the school.

He confirmed that all payments were in line with the agreement in Exhibit AX4 (agreement to pay school fees in advance).

After this, the prosecution counsel said he still had five to six witnesses to call on the matter before the court.

Justice Anenih thereafter adjourned the case to May 5, 8, and June 16, 17, 2026, for the hearing of the pending application and continuation of trial.

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The post No Power of Attorney presented on behalf of Yahaya Bello on flagged property -EFCC witness appeared first on Frontpageng.

The witness, Olomotane Egoro, also noted, during the continuation of cross-examination on Wednesday, that he was not the account officer of the account in question.

Egoro, who is the 10th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial, admitted, when asked, that his bank did not flout any rule of the Central Bank of Nigeria by approving the cheques brought by the third defendant, Abdulsalam Hudu.

On Exhibit AP, the banker noted that the opening package of that particular account (Fazab Business Enterprise) was not before the court.

He said he could not confirm the business for which Fazab Business Enterprise was registered, though he admitted that opening a corporate account required incorporation documents.

The banker added that he would not also know why the various local government areas paid money into Exhibit AP unless stated.

The Defendant’s Counsel, Zakari Abbas, asked if Access Bank approved all the cheques brought by one Yakubu Abenege.

“All the withdrawals were approved by the bank,” the witness responded.

“Did the bank breach any of the CBN rules?” Abbas asked.

“No, my lord,” Egoro responded.

The witness’ attention was then drawn to transactions of May 6, 2022 in Exhibit AP, where narrations were stated for the inflows.

He confirmed that the inflow into the account from Okehi local government was for the supply of medical items.

After cross-examination, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the case till Thursday, March 12,  for continuation of trial.

The witness had, at the preceding day’s hearing, told the court that no banking rules were breached with respect to transactions linked to the Kogi Government House account.

The compliance officer also said that there was no Post No Debit, PND, instruction against the account being tendered as evidence, while noting that the name of the former governor and the 2nd defendant did not feature in the transactions.

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The post I wasn’t with Access Bank when Kogi transactions were done, EFCC witness tells court appeared first on Frontpageng.

Abdulazeez, a staff of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja when he was being cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN.

It would be recalled that Abdulazeez, the 10th prosecution witness (PW-10), had identified two documents sought to be tendered as evidence by the EFCC during the evidence-in-chief in the last adjourned date.

The documents are the Irrevocable Power of Attorney between Dantata and Sawoe and Azar Real Estate Limited and a Deed of Assignment between Dantata and Azar Real Estate Limited.

However, Daudu raised an objection to the admissibility of the documents and the judge adjourned for ruling after taking arguments from parties.

Justice Nwite, in his ruling, admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits 42 and 43 respectively.

While being led in evidence by Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, who appeared for EFCC upon resumed trial, the PW-10 identified Exhibits 42 and 43.

During his cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, the witness admitted that the document, marked as Exhibit 43, did not state the value of the property in question.

Abdulazeez, who said he had worked as an accountant for over 25 years, admitted that, in his years of experience, he had not received documents which did not contain the value of the property being sold.

“In all your 25 years, have you been in receipt of documents, which do not contain the value of the property that is being sold?” Daudu asked.

“No, my lord,” the witness responded.

The witness also told the court that, during the perfection of the transaction, the ex-governor, Yahaya Bello, was neither a participant nor did he sight him anywhere near their office.

“Dantata and Sawoe gave consent and assigned Azbar to execute the deed and Azbar gave us these two documents. Our directors signed on behalf of Dantata and Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azbar,” he said.

Earlier, Justice Emeka Nwite had ruled that the documents sought to be tendered by the EFCC, which the Defendant’s Counsel objected to, were admissible.

Daudu had raised objection on the admissibility of the two documents – irrevocable power of attorney and deed of assignment.

The judge said the central question was whether the documents sought to be tendered were admissible in accordance with Sections 108, 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act.

He said he agreed with the defendant’s counsel that the documents sought to be tendered were public documents in line with Section 102, which must satisfy Section 104 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

He, however, added that the prosecution had argued that the documents sought to be tendered were not for a civil case but a criminal trial.

The court also agreed with the prosecution that the purpose of tendering the documents was to establish the existence of a transaction and not to prove title to the land or property.

The prosecution counsel then called the 11th witness, James Igbakuleh, who gave an evidence with regard to a property on Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 District, Abuja.

The witness, a legal practitioner, told the court that the payment for the said property was made in three tranches.

He added that it was one Shehu Bello that contacted him after his client, SFC Foods Limited, approached him to sell the property.

He said, shortly after the conclusion of transactions, he was invited by one Mohammed at the EFCC, who said the agency was investigating a matter and that his name had featured prominently.

During cross-examination, the PW-11 also told the court that he was seeing former Gov. Bello for the first time and that he never had any business with him.

The EFCC equally called its PW-12, Jemilu Abdullahi, a Bureau De Change operator, and led in evidence by its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.

The witness confirmed that he knew some of the companies that had been mentioned in the course of the trial but said that his transactions were mainly with Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited.

He also confirmed transactions, in multiples of N10 million by one Abba Adaudu.

After a brief recess, Daudu informed the court that he had filed an application for the red alert, issued before ex-Gov. Bello’s appearance in court, to be removed.

The lawyer argued that granting the relief for his client to travel without taking away the red notice was like “giving something with one hand and taking it from the other hand.”

He said this after Pinheiro observed that their application to vacate the earlier order granting the defendant the permission to travel abroad was for his own good.

“The application was granted for the defendant to travel during the period of Ramadan for 10 days, beginning from March 13.

“So if they want the travel to be another date after Ramadan, they will have to bring another application,” Pinheiro said.

Justice Nwite, however, said he would need to look at the issues critically before giving a ruling after the parties must have adopted their processes.

The judge, therefore adjourned the matter until April 22, 23 and 24, and May 6 and 7, for continuation of trial.

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The post EFCC’s witness maintains Yahaya Bello’s name not linked to fresh documents tendered appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after listening to the prosecution and defence lawyers’ arguments for and against the admissibility of the property-related document.

Former governor’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had kicked against its admissibility on the ground that the document was not before the court during the examination-in-chief of the 10th prosecution witness (PW-10), Mahmoud Abdulazeez.

Earlier, the PW-8, Gabriel Ochoche, while being cross-examined by Paul Daudu, SAN, who represented Mr Bello, had said he could not link the name of the former governor to any of the transactions before the court.

The witness also admitted that he did not have any direct interpersonal relationship with the signatories to the account of a company, Kumfayakum Global Limited, which was presented as exhibit.

That was after he was told to confirm the account opening package and statement of account of the company, covering Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2024.

Ochoche, a Compliance Officer with Wema Bank, admitted that, from the face of the document, he could not tell what a particular inflow of N100 million from Keyless Nature Limited, on December 15, 2021, was meant for.

The witness, who said he had worked with Wema Bank for four years, with seven years’ experience in the banking sector, also noted that he was not the account manager for the company’s account.

“Do you know the business relationship between Keyless Nature Limited and Kumfayakum Global Limited?” Daudu asked.

“No, I do not,” the witness responded.

The witness said the same thing of a Real Time Gross Settlement inflow from Access Bank, on December 17, 2021, by the order of Keyless Nature Limited.

He admitted that it was only the account holders who would know why the funds were paid and received.

The witness was thereafter asked to identify former Governor Yahaya Bello.

“Please look at the defendant. Do you know him?” the counsel asked.

“Yes, I know him as the former Governor of Kogi State,” Ochoche responded.

“In all the inflows and outflows drawn to your attention by learned senior counsel for the prosecution, did the name Yahaya Bello appear anywhere in Exhibit 37?” Daudu asked.

“It did not appear in any of the transactions drawn to my attention,” the witness said.

He also admitted that apart from the said transactions, Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in Exhibit 37.

After the PW-9, Oluwafemi Victoria, a Compliance Officer with Polaris Bank, testified with respect to transactions conducted on the accounts under investigation, the prosecution counsel, Kayode Enitan, SAN, called its 10th prosecution witness (PW-10) , Mahmoud Abdulazeez.

During the examination-in-chief of the PW-10, a staff of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company, he informed the court that he had been with the company since 2016 and currently serves as the Chief Accountant and Head of the Accounts Department.

When asked to give evidence on a property located at Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarinpa II District, Abuja, he testified that a Deed of Assignment was executed between Mubarak Dantata on behalf of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company and Ali Bello on behalf of Azba Real Estate Limited.

The prosecution lawyer then sought to link Maigari Murtala, who allegedly effected payments for the said property with the parties to the Deed of Assignment.

The defence counsel, however, objected, arguing that the Deed of Assignment was not before the court and that any question relating to its contents would be improper in its absence.

He contended that the prosecution’s line of questioning revolved around an unseen document not yet tendered in evidence.

The EFCC’s lawyer then sought to tender certain documents which the witness stated had been submitted to the EFCC during investigation but Joseph Daudu, SAN, who took over the case from Paul, objected.

He argued that the documents, being the Deed of Assignment and the Irrevocable Power of Attorney, were registrable instruments relating to the title of land and, having not been shown to be registered, were inadmissible in both civil and criminal proceedings.

In response, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who led the prosecution team, argued that the witness had already led oral evidence of the transaction and receipt of funds, and that the documents were being tendered to anchor that oral testimony, not to prove title to land.

However, Daudu maintained that the documents lacked a consideration clause evidencing the transaction and were therefore inadmissible.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned sitting until March 9 for ruling on the admissibility of the documents and continuation of trial.

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The post Yahaya Bello: Court fixes March 9 for ruling on admissibility of EFCC’s document appeared first on Frontpageng.

The 10th Prosecution Witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has maintained that the cash withdrawals by the individuals mentioned in his testimony were in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc., said he had been working with the bank since May 2023.

He confirmed that one Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, who was earlier said to have made withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account, was one of the signatories of the account.

He added, on cross-examination, that, from the details in the account opening package, Olanrewaju was a civil servant and Director Accounts in the Kogi State government administration.

The witness said, being an Access Bank official, he was not privy to the workings of the Kogi Government House Account and could not state what the funds that were withdrawn were meant for except for those that were detailed in the transactions.

He gave a similar testimony as the one before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.

The banker admitted that the former governor was neither a local government chairman nor was his name linked to any of the transactions presented before the court.

He said this in relation to the transactions between the various Local Government Areas in Kogi and Fazab Business Enterprise, among others.

“Go to transaction of 6th May 2022, can you confirm to this Honourable court if you can see supply of reading material to Okene Local Government?” the Defendant’s Counsel, Daudu SAN, asked.

“Yes my lord, I can confirm that it is for supply of reading materials to Okene Local Government and the amount is N14,453,900.84,” the witness responded.

The purposes of other payments ranged from sporting equipment to agrochemicals, farm inputs and also medical consumables, according to the witness.

The witness specifically said a N10.6 million lodgement from Ibaji local government statutory revenue was for the purpose of Agrochemicals while the N7.3 million from Mopa Muro local government was for the supply of relief materials.

According to him, N9.9m (Ofu local government) was for the procurement of Agrochemicals, among others.

The court had, during the examination-in-chief, admitted in evidence, the subpoena signed by the Managing Director of Access Bank.

The subpoena contains the statements of account of Kogi State Government House Administration, from January 2016 to January 2024.

It also contains the statements of accounts of Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited, and Keyless Nature Limited, among others.

Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, ZE Abbas, objected to the admissibility of the documents, saying that the certificate of identification did not comply with the Evidence Act.

He said he would provide full reason during his final written address.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the objection as a fishing expedition, adding also that he would give his reason during his final written address.

Justice Maryann Anenih, however, admitted the documents, noting that admissibility in evidence would be determined subsequently, when necessary, if the objection could be justifiably defended.

The Kogi Government House Account was marked Exhibit AH1 and AH2, while the other 11 companies’ statements were labelled from AG TO AR.

The prosecution counsel told the witness to look at Exhibit AH1, Kogi Government House Administration Account, from December 2018 to August 2019, and confirm the credit inflows from Kogi State Government House.

He was also told to confirm that there were withdrawals by one Aminu Jimoh Olarenwaju and Abdulsalami Hudu, which he did.

“Can you confirm the cash withdrawals on the 24th December 2018? What is your evidence in relation to those withdrawals?” Pinheiro SAN asked.

The Access Bank staff said there were multiple cash withdrawals from the account, noting that the bank filed Suspicious Transaction Report with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in line with standard practice.

He noted that there were multiple withdrawals of N10 million each between 15th and 16th January 2018 by Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, and on 8th March by Abdulsalami Hudu.

The Prosecution Counsel also told the witness to tell the court what the credit entry to Exhibit AP (Fazab Business Enterprise) was in May 2022.

He said there were several credit inflows from local government areas into the account and cash withdrawals by Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege.

The witness, however, said during cross-examination that no law was flouted in the transactions, reiterating that the withdrawals were in line with CBN guidelines.

Justice Anenih thereafter adjourned the case to 10th, 11th and 12th March, 2026 for continuation of trial.

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The post FCT court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial to March 10 appeared first on Frontpageng.

The seventh prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial against the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has maintained that the name of the former governor did not appear, either as beneficiary in all documents, or as signatory to any of the exhibits before the court.

While being cross-examined before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on Thursday, the witness, Olomotane Egoro, subpoenaed from Access Bank, also admitted that no transaction in Exhibit 33(8) mentioned the name, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

He reiterated that the withdrawals between May and December 2022, which were mentioned during his examination-in-chief, were within the cash withdrawal threshold of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

On the issue of suspicious transactions said to have been reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, the Access Bank official said not all cash withdrawals by one Siyaka Yakubu were suspicious.

“My testimony is the pattern of withdrawals by the customer,” he told the court.

The defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, asked, “So, the outflow that was transferred by Siaka to any person in Exhibit 33(8) will not amount to Suspicious Transaction, ST.

“For example, the N20 million for the supply of education materials will not qualify as suspicious transaction?”

“No my lord, it won’t,” the witness responded.

“So, that will naturally go for all other outflows for which reasons or purposes were given?” the defendant’s counsel asked.

“My lord, it is not all cash withdrawals that are suspicious and not all transfers that are suspicious or illegal,” the witness said.

He also agreed that he did not know the business relationship between the two companies mentioned in some outflows from October to December 2022, and that he did not also know the purpose of the transactions.

After a brief recess, Justice Emeka Nwite said the court admitted the CTC of proceedings before Justice Obiora Egwuatu as Exhibit 35(D-2).

The Access Bank compliance officer was then told to confirm Exhibit 34(1) and Exhibit 34(2) as Kogi Government House Account Opening Package and Government House Administration Account, respectively, which he did.

He also admitted that he was not the relationship manager, especially on Exhibit 34(2), adding that he was not also familiar with the workings of the Kogi State Government House.

Looking at Exhibit 34(1), the witness confirmed that the name ‘Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju,’ appeared as one of the signatories to the account.

“Confirm if Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju is described as Director of Account,” the defendant’s counsel told the witness.

“Yes, he is described as Director of Account,” he responded.

He also confirmed that all the withdrawals in Exhibit 34(2), in tranches of N10 million each, made by Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, did not exceed the limit of cash withdrawal set by the CBN.

This, he admitted, was the same for the cash withdrawals by Abdulsalam Hudu in Exhibit 34(2).

“Go through exhibit 34(2), which you tendered and see if the name of the defendant, Yahaya Adoza Bello, appears in any of the column as a beneficiary,” Daudu SAN told the witness.

The banker confirmed that the name of the former governor appeared nowhere in the Exhibit.

He also admitted that the former governor was not a signatory in Exhibit 34(1).

The witness was then told to look at the account opening package and statement of account of E-Traders International Limited, from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022, domiciled at Maraba branch of Access Bank.

He gave the signatories as Abdullahi Jamilu and Salisu Abdulmajeed, saying the occupation recorded against both names was “sale of system and appliances.”

On certain multiple transactions made up of withdrawals and deposits by Abdullahi Jamilu, the witness agreed that as a signatory to the account, the customer, Jamilu, had a right to transact.

He also agreed that he did not know the purpose of the transactions except as stated in the column of the transaction.

The prosecution counsel, Kayode Enitan, SAN, thereafter called its eighth witness, Gabriel Ochoche, a staff of First City Monument Bank, FCMB.

He was given Exhibit 37 to confirm that it covered the period: 29th June, 2021 to 31st December, 2024, which he did.

The witness took the court through the inflows and outflows on the accounts of Keyless Nature Limited and  Kunfayakun Global Business Enterprise.

He confirmed multiple transactions between Eja Dams Essence Limited and Kunfayakun, dated 18th February, 2022.

After his examination, the Defendant’s Counsel said he needed to go through the evidence before he could cross-examine the eighth witness.

Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, objected, claiming that the proof of evidence had been given to the defence team over two years ago.

Justice Nwite, however, said he asked if the learned silk could go on with cross-examination because he was totally exhausted.

That was at about 3 p.m.

The court sitting began after 9 a.m.

“I worked during vacation. So adjournment is at the court instance just like yesterday. To be honest with you, haven’t we tried? Taking the long examination-in-chief of the PW-7, the cross examination and the evidence-in-chief of the PW8,” the judge said.

“Really, my lord is trying and very hardworking sir. My lord, let it be on record that the prosecution, the EFCC, has never sought an adjournment,” Pinheiro responded.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to March 3 and 9, 2026 for continuation of trial.

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The post Again, EFCC witness says no transaction linked to Yahaya Bello in exhibits appeared first on Frontpageng.