Mark is seeking an order staying the execution of the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal.

The apex court, in a hearing notice with appeal number: SC/CV/180/2026 between Sen. Mark vs Hon. Nafiu-Bala Gombe and four others, said the proceeding is scheduled for April 14.

The hearing notice, sent to the parties in the case through the Litigation Department of the Supreme Court on Friday was sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja.

The hearing date coincides with the date earlier fixed by the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, FHC, Abuja.

Although the two cases will be coming up on Tuesday, it was learnt that the lower court may step down the matter or adjourn its matter pending the hearing at the apex court, in line with the superiority of courts.

Mark, the appellant in the appeal, had named Hon Nafiu-Bala Gombe, ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Chief Ralp Nwosu as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.

Mark, in the motion on notice filed by his lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, prayed the court for an order of stay of execution of the appellate court’s judgment pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.

He also sought an order restraining INEC from acting on the Appeal Court’s judgment by recognising any person(s) other than him and the existing national officers of ADC, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.

Mark, the former Senate president, further prayed the apex court for an order, restraining INEC from tampering with the national leadership structure of the party as presently constituted and represented by him, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Besides, he sought an order staying further proceedings in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, pending before Justice Nwite, the trial judge, at FHC, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal at the apex court.

The motion on notice was brought by his lawyer pursuant to Sections 6(6)(a) and 233 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Order 4, Rule 1 of the Supreme Court’s Rules 7074 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

Giving 12-ground argument, Okpanachi said the Court of Appeal delivered judgment in appeal number: CA/ABJ/CV/145/2026 on March 12.

He said Mark, being dissatisfied with the said judgment, filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court on March 16 and the record of appeal was duly compiled and transmitted on March 31.

According to the lawyer, the appeal has been duly entered before the honourable court as appeal number: SC/CV/180/2026.

He said one of the orders made by the Appeal Court was that parties should maintain status quo ante bellum.

“The 1st respondent (Gombe) has been relying on the said order to write to the 4th respondent (INEC), urging it to refrain from dealing with or recognising the appellant (Mark) and other national officers of the 2nd respondent (ADC).

“The actions of the 1st respondent (Gombe) amount to attempted enforcement of the judgment of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

The lawyer, however, said Mark had filed a competent appeal, challenging the entire judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“Unless this application is granted, the judgment of the Court of Appeal will be enforced and the appeal rendered nugatory.”

Okpanachi, who submitted that the appeal had raised substantial and arguable issues of law, stated that the balance of justice favours the grant of the application.

“It is in the interest of justice to preserve the res and protect the authority of this honourable court,” he prayed.

INEC had, on April 1, removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal and website as ADC’s national chairman and national secretary respectively, following the Appeal Court’s judgement.

In reaction to INEC’s decision, Mark filed a motion on notice before Justice Nwite on April 7 by his new lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, praying the court to order the commission to restore their names as it were, prior to the institution of the suit by Gombe.

He also sought an order for accelerated hearing of the case and the judge fixed April 14 for hearing.

Gombe, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, at the FHC had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, INEC and Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

Nwosu was the ADC national chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership.

Gombe, who was National Deputy Chairman of ADC, had urged Justice Nwite to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from further parading themselves as national chairman and national secretary of the party.

The aggrieved ex-deputy national chairman had argued that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The judge had, on September 4, 2025, declined to grant an ex-parte motion filed by Gombe, seeking to stop Mark-led leadership of the ADC, pending the hearing of his substantive suit.

Nwite had refused the three prayers sought in the ex-parte motion filed by Gombe and moved by his lawyer, Michael Agber.

Rather, the judge had directed Gombe, the plaintiff in the suit, to put all the defendants on notice to show cause why the motion should not be granted.

The judge then adjourned the matter until September 15, 2025, for the defendants to show cause.

However, the Mark-led ADC approached the court of appeal, challenging the lower court’s jurisdictional power to hear the suit and the appellate court ordered the parties to go back to the trial court and maintained status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the case.

Source: NAN

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The trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court, FHC, in Abuja since the court is currently on Easter vacation.

The vacation, which commences on Tuesday, April 7, will end on April 13 and regular court sittings will resume on Tuesday, April 14, across all divisions of the court.

The 13 courts at the Abuja FHC is currently busy with terrorist cases.

Some of the trial judges are Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Musa Liman, Akpan Ekerete, among others.

While Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, led the team of the Federal Government’s lawyers before Justice Nyako, Aliyu Abubakar, the Director General, Legal Aide Council, led the team of lawyers for the 20 suspected terrorists before Nyako.

Some of the suspected terrorists in Nyako’s cause list include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle,, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu, Abdullahi Ali, among others.

There were heavy security beef-up in and around the Abuja Federal High Court as all roads leading to the court were blocked by armed security personnel while police helicopter hovered around the Central Business District.

Source: NAN

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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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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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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.

Justice Egwuatu, who was recently re-assigned the cases by the Chief Judge, CJ, of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, said he decided to withdraw from them for personal reasons and for better interest of justice.

The two cases include the multi billion naira asset forfeiture case concerning 57 property and the N8.7 billion money laundering charges filed by the EFCC against Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir and son, Abdulaziz Malami.

The development occurred on Thursday shortly after the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property allegedly linked to Malami was called for mention.

Upon resumed hearing, EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for mention.

The lawyer, however, told the court that the commission received a letter from Joseph Daudu, SAN, who is Malami’s counsel, seeking an adjournment of the case to Monday, February 16.

He said Daudu stated in the letter that he was at the Court of Appeal for another case, hence, the need for the application for an adjournment.

Shortly after Iheanacho addressed the court, Justice Egwuatu, in a brief ruling, announced his recusal from the case.

“Gentlemen, for personal reasons and for better interest of justice, I will recuse myself from this case and in the other sister case,” he said.

The judge said the case files would be remitted back to the chief judge accordingly.

Although Daudu was not in court, lawyers for other respondents/applicants, who had interest in some of the property already placed on temporary forfeiture to the federal government, were in court.

While Kalu Kalu Agu announced appearance for Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju and Realsmart Tech Nigeria Ltd; D. O. Anyebe represented Real Edge Agro Services Ltd, while M.S. Ishaq appeared for his clients who he did not mention in open court.

The cases were formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break.

The CJ had re-assigned the two cases to the new judge after the Christmas vacation sitting ended and Justice Obiora fixed February 12 for the civil case and February 16 for the money laundering case.

Justice Nwite, the former trial judge, had, on January 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami, to the federal government.

The judge made the order following an ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, and moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho, to the effect.

The judge directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause, within 14 days, why all the property should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

The multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

But Malami had since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, praying the court to dismiss same.

In a motion on notice filed on January 27 on Malami’s behalf by a team of lawyers led by Daudu, the ex-AGF alleged that the anti-corruption agency got the interim order by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.

Malami, who urged the court to dismiss the suit to prevent “conflicting outcomes duplicative litigation,” argued that the proceeding was an assault on his fundamental right to owned property, his presumption of innocence and his right to live in peace with his family.

More applicants had also joined Malami in urging the court to vacate the interim order of forfeiture.

In a related development, the ex-AGF, Asabe and Abdulaziz were, on December 30, 2025, arraigned by the anti-graft agency also before Justice Nwite in the 16-count criminal charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.

They were arraigned on allegations bordering on money laundering offences to the tune of N8, 713,923, 759.49 (Eight billion, seven hundred and thirteen million, nine hundred and twenty three thousand, seven hundred and fifty nine naira, forty nine kobo).

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts.

While Malami and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre before they were admitted to N500 million bail each, on January 7, with two sureties each in the like sum.

Malami and his son were, however, re-arresred by the Department of State Services, DSS, over allegations bordering on terrorism.

The duo, who are currently being detained by the DSS, were arraigned, on February 3, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a sister court on a five-count terrorism charge.

Source: NAN

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The PW-8, who was a member of the Amotekun Security Network, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by counsel for the Department of State Services, DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN.

The witness, simply identified as “SSH” for security reasons, said he was one of the officials deployed to go to the scene of the attack.

The DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) on alleged terrorism offences in respect of the church attack.

At least, 40 worshippers were killed and over 100 persons sustained varying degree of injuries.

Led in evidence by Adedipe, the witness chronicled how the team made efforts to arrest the attackers.

“On June 5, 2022 as an operative of Amotekun, we received a distress call from the anti-kidnapping squad.

“We were on an anti-kidnapping mission when we received a call that there was an attack at the St. Francis Church, Owo.

“So, we were asked to withdraw and go to St Francis Church. On getting to the church, we met a crowd and managed to enter the premises.

“When we entered the church premises, we saw several dead bodies on the floor, both inside and around the church, including some injured people, including women and children,” he said.

The witness added: “We later came outside the church to gather information, and learnt that the attackers were four in number and that they left the church in a blue Nissan car.

“We got into our vehicle and started to trail them towards Ute Road, because that was the information we got.

“We were able to get close to them because our vehicle was more efficient than the one they were carrying.”

SSH said at a point, the attackers “suddenly parked their car and ran into the bush. One of our men and a volunteer went after them while the rest of us waited strategically.”

The witness said they later heard gun shots, adding: “After a while of gun shots, our colleague came out of the bush and informed us that the hunter has been killed.

“We were able to get back to the bush to take the body of the hunter,” the witness said.

He added that they later took the Nissan car to their office, before it was moved to the state headquarters of Amotekun.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness said he could not remember how many of them brought out the hunter’s corpse from the bush.

On whether they made efforts to identify the actual owner of the Nissan car, the witness said: “Before we moved the vehicle to the state headquarters in Akure, the owner came to our office to identify himself as the owner of the vehicle.”

When asked if they interviewed the owner of the vehicle, the witness said the interview was conducted in their office, but that he was not part of those who interviewed the owner of the car.

At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Adedipe prayed the court to grant an adjournment to three consecutive days to allow the prosecution call its last set of witnesses and close its case.

The defence lawyer did not oppose, following which Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned until March 24, 25 and 26 for continuation of trial.

Source: NAN

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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 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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Nwonke, the 2nd defence witness (DW-2), told Justice Emeka Nwite while being led in evidence-in-chief by Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.

Kyari, the former head of Intelligence Response Team, IRT, alongside four other suspended IRT officers, including the two convicted drug traffickers, were being prosecuted by the NDLEA on eight-count charge.

The agency had accused them of conspiracy, illegal dealing in cocaine, importation of cocaine and obstruction.

The four officers are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirgba and Insp. John Nuhu, named as 2nd to 5th defendants.

The two convicted drug traffickers were Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, listed as 6th and 7th defendants.

The duo were said to have been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the IRT officers and handed over to the NDLEA.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who were non-police officers, later pleaded guilty to counts 5, 6 and 7 preferred against them by the anti-narcotic agency in June 14, 2022, and were convicted and sentenced to a two-year jail term.

However, the affected police officers, after their arraignment on March 7, 2022, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the NDLEA concluded its case, Kyari and his co-defendants opened their defence.

Nwonke, while giving his evidence, said he was serving with the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, of the Nigerian Police Force, Abuja, when the two suspects were arrested by the IRT officers and brought for investigation.

He said he was part of the team that conducted interview session for the suspects on January 20, 2022 where their statements were taken and the session recorded.

The witness said the recorded video was transferred into a digital video disc, DVD.

He said during the session, the duo confessed that the police officers arrested them with the substance said to be cocaine at the airport after the officers of the NDLEA on duty had cleared them.

Nwonke said Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s data was collected, including their state of origin.

The witness said the two drug traffickers told him that they arrived in Nigeria from Ethopia with the substance suspected to be cocaine.

“They told me the substance was given to them and that it was not their first time nor second time of carrying it,” he said.

The DW-2 said the convicts told him that they had been in the business for a long time but that they were surprised how the men of Nigeria Police Force arrested them.

“I asked them how do you people do to escape and arrive in Nigeria since it was not the first or second time of trafficking the substance.”

The witness said they told him that any time they bring in the substance through the airport, the NDLEA officers on duty would have been aware of their coming.

His words: “I asked them how do they (the officers) know they are the people coming with this substance.

“They said when they are coming with this ‘market’ from Ethopia to Nigeria, the people who give them the job will take their pictures and send it to the NDLEA officers on duty at the airport.

“So when they arrive at the airport, the NDLEA officers have their pictures and the types of clothes they are putting on.”

Nwonke said the convicts told him that as soon as the NDLEA officers sighted them, they (the convicts) will put up a smiling face as a code to the officers on duty.

“Then the NDLEA officers will unzip the bag as if they are conducting a check on it and zip it back; meaning the bag has been checked and cleared,” he said.

The witness said Umeibe and Ezenwanne told him that, that was how they had been operating before their arrest by the officers of the IRT, shortly after they were cleared by the NDLEA officers on that fateful day.

He said the convicts told him that those who sent them the message did not tell them the quantity of the substance they trafficked.

He said they told him the substance is usually called “market.”

He said when he asked them who they usually deliver the “market” to, the witness said the convicts told him the recipients know how to receive the message but they often go to them on a night bus, provided they arrive successfully.

“What I am saying is also detailed in the video where they made confessional statements.

“There are so many questions in that video, though I can’t remember all,” he told the court.

Ikpeazu then asked the witness if he had a downloaded version of the video recording and he responded in the affirmative.

The witness also admitted that he was served with a subpoena directing him to come and give testimony before the court.

After the witness told the lawyer that a copy of the subpoena, the DVD and a certificate of compliance were with him in court, Ikpeazu sought to tender them in evidence but counsel for the NDLEA, Joseph Sunday, reacted.

Although Sunday did not oppose tendering the subpoena letter, which he regarded as court document, he objected to tendering the video and the certificate of compliance.

After taking the arguments of the prosecution and the defence, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until February 27 for ruling and continuation of trial.

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