Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the hearing to allow the former governor’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, continue with the cross-examination of EFCC’s 12 prosecution witness (PW-12), Abdullahi Jamilu.

Jamilu, who was giving his initial statement to the anti-graft agency to “refresh his memory,” said he made the statement to the EFCC on May 10, 2022.

The witness, while being cross-examined by Daudu, told the court that it was the only statement he made to the commission on the matter.

Jemilu, however, admitted that the issues relating to Wales Oil and Gas, Forza and Aleshua were not in Exhibit 46.

He added that the names he read out in Exhibit 13, Pages 1 to 13, were not also contained in Exhibit 46.

He also confirmed, under cross-examination, that he was not the maker of Exhibit 13.

Justice Nwite had earlier dismissed the objection of the defence counsel to the EFCC lawyer’s bid to re-present Exhibit 46, which is the initial statement of the witness.

The judge, in the ruling, held that the objection was speculative and misconstrued.

The witness, however, recalled that he had given similar evidence before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, a brother judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

When the defendant’s counsel reminded him that he was the 3rd prosecution witness (PW-3) in the other case, he said he could not remember the exact witness number.

He, however, confirmed that the defendants in that case were Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakuba Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadi Sadat.

The lawyer then moved to tender documents and they were admitted as Exhibit 47 without objection.

Looking at the exhibit, the witness admitted that the transactions he talked about in Justice Egwuatu’s court were about the same with the ones he talked about in this case.

He explained that he approached his colleagues to help him effect the dollar transfer payments because his own accounts could not directly handle such.

The witness, a BDC operator, also said the names of the companies – Wales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas and Aleshua Services – were not contained in Exhibit 46 because he was not asked regarding that and did not remember.

During his examination-in-chief by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Jamilu said he remembered giving one Ali, a police officer, some dollars on behalf of Abba Adaudu.

He also noted that the companies mentioned earlier before the court – Aleshua Services, Wales Oil and Gas and Forza Oil and Gas – were companies owned by his colleagues at the market.

The witness added that whenever he did not have enough inflow of dollars to effect dollar transfers, he usually contacted his colleagues and agreed on a rate.

According to him, the instruction to pay American International School, Abuja, AISA, was given by Adaudu, who he said came to him with one of his friends for the transaction.

He, however, said that he could not remember the name of the said friend.

The PW-12 told the court that all the transfers were successfully effected to AISA, after which he forwarded the telex advice (transfer receipts) to Adaudu.

The witness was again told to confirm that the documents in Exhibit 13 (P1 to P14) were the telex advice and receipt of the school payment.

“Yes, but I just noticed that P13 and P14 are not part of the documents I tendered as part of the payment I made for the school fees,” he responded.

He mentioned the names of the students on behalf of whom the payments were made.

Justice Nwite, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 6 and May 7 for continuation of cross-examination of PW-12.

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The post Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial until May 6 appeared first on Frontpageng.

He, however, noted that the names of the first defendant, former governor, Bello; and the second defendant, Shuaib Oricha, did not appear in any of the records of transactions.

Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc., said, during the continuation of cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, that there was no Post No Debit instruction against the account being tendered as evidence.

He confirmed that the first entry in the 14th column of Exhibit AP reflected an inflow of ₦20,000,000 for the supply of educational materials.

The witness said he would not know whether one Siyaka Yakubu whom the prosecution drew his attention to, during his examination-in-chief, was a signatory to the account or not.

Egoro, when asked, said he could not confirm what certain transfers done on August 10, 2022, between Fazab Business Enterprise and Abba Adaudu; and September 13, 2022, between Fazab and Ejadams Essence Limited, were meant for.

“You do not also know the nature of the business relationship between Abba Adaudu and Fazab Business Enterprise?” the Defendant’s counsel asked.

“No, my Lord,” the witness responded.

He was then referred to Exhibit AR, which he confirmed as the account opening package for E‑Traders International Limited, from January 1, 2018, to December 21, 2022.

He confirmed that the account was opened at the Maraba branch of Access Bank but admitted that he could not say whether one Jamilu Abdullahi was a signatory or not.

The witness, who said, at the last hearing, that he had been working with Access Bank since May 2023, noted that there was no court order restricting operations on the particular account before him but that a Suspicious Transaction Report was made.

He, however, admitted that the STR was merely a suspicion that required further investigation.

After a brief recess, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned to Wednesday, March 11, for continuation of cross-examination and trial.

The 10th Prosecution Witness had confirmed, at the last hearing, 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.

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.

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The post EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Bank official maintains transactions didn’t breach CBN rules, says no trace to ex-gov 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.

He admitted that the account was domiciled in the bank’s Lokoja branch, noting that he never worked there.

The witness, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, offered the explanations before Justice Maryann Anenih while being cross-examined by Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial.

He also admitted that he was not the maker of the exhibits tendered in court by the EFCC.

The witness, however, noted that Abdulsalam Hudu, whose name appeared on multiple transactions in the exhibits tendered was duly authorised to operate the Kogi State Government House Administration account.

He said Hudu’s name appeared on the mandate as a signatory to the account.

“Am I correct to say that, in your bank, every account usually has a branch manager and a relationship manager?” the Defence Counsel asked.

The witness agreed and admitted that the relationship manager had a more intimate knowledge of the account operations than the compliance officer.

Looking at Exhibit S2, he told the court that the account was opened sometime in 2005 and listed the signatories to the account.

“At the time of opening, Chris A. Enofola was a signatory to the account. Onekutu Daniel M. and Abdulsalami Hudu were also signatories,” the compliance officer stated.

On cross-examination, he added that Oricha Umoru Shaibu was introduced as a signatory in 2016, as reflected on page 5 of the mandate, adding that Ahmed Idris was introduced in 2018, and Alhassan Omakoji, in 2019.

As in previous hearings, he confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s withdrawal limit for government accounts was N10 million and for individual accounts, N500,000, implying that that was adhered to in the transactions.

The Zenith Bank compliance officer noted that the N10 million withdrawal limit applied to all signatories and duly introduced representatives of the account.

According to him, any person who operates the account in a consistent manner is deemed a representative of the organisation.

“I can say that Abdulsalami Hudu was authorised because his name appears on the mandate.”

This was against the background that multiple transactions were recorded in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu.

The defendant’s counsel then told the witness to tell the court the beneficiaries of the multiple transactions of N10 million each on December 15, 2017 – the names, the number of withdrawals, and how they appeared – which he did.

Daudu then asked, “From what you have just stated, there are three variations of names. Since banks are usually strict with name consistency, how do we ascertain that the person involved in all the 19 transactions is the same individual?

“How can we determine that from the withdrawal instruments?”

Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected to the question, saying, “My Lord, I object. The question is speculative. Questions asked during cross-examination must relate to facts in issue.

“A witness can only give evidence on facts within his knowledge, not on what might or might not have happened.”

Daudu responded, “My Lord, the question is not speculative. The witness has admitted that the 19 transactions were carried out under three different name variations.

“I am putting it to him that it is the withdrawal instruments themselves that would determine the identity of the person who carried out the transactions.”

The witness noted that he could not assume why the names appeared differently.

“Without the introductory documents, I would not know,” he told the court.

The witness had, at the previous day’s proceedings, confirmed multiple transactions of N10 million each on the Kogi State Government House Administration Account, which he said were within the transaction limits.

Midway into cross-examination, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the case to January 15 and 16, February 10 and 11, and March 10, 11 and 12, 2026 for continuation of trial.

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The post I was never accounts officer for Kogi Govt House account, EFCC witness tells court appeared first on Frontpageng.

When the case was called for continuation of hearing, the prosecution first called its fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank.

The witness told the court the total credit to the account in question, which came from different senders, adding that the transfers from the account were in multiples of N10 million.

He said the total credit in November, 2021 was N450 million.

While being cross-examined by the Counsel to the 1st Defendant, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness admitted that she was not the accounts officer for the two accounts with her bank.

She admitted also that, because she was not the accounts officer or relationship manager, she did not know how the transactions on the accounts were carried out.

Counsel to the 2nd Defendant, AM Aliyu, while cross-examining the witness, said, “Look at the portion my learned brother showed you in Exhibit M, the name Abdulsalam Hudu did not feature there?”

“That is correct. Abdulsalam Hudu’s name did not feature,” she responded.

The Sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6), Mshelia Arhyel B, was then called for cross-examination.

Daudu, SAN told the court that he had not concluded the cross-examination of the same witness in another court on a similar subject matter.

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The court, however, held that the matter before it was independent and that the Defence Counsel held the discretion to cross-examine or not.

During the proceedings, the prosecution sought to tender certain documents through the subpoenaed witness.

Counsel to the 1st Defendant objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that they did not comply with the provisions of Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.

He further indicated his intention to address the Court more extensively on the points of objection at a later stage.

Counsel to the 2nd Defendant, Aliyu, also objected, relying on the same statutory grounds.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to discountenance the objections raised by the defence team and admit the documents in evidence.

The court admitted the document, a 218-page statement of account of Alusha Services,  signed by the witness, Mshelia Arhyel, and marked P1 en bloc.

The prosecution asked similar questions posed to the same witness at the June 26, 2025 examination before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.

He reiterated that, prior to 2023, there was no strict withdrawal limit as long as the amount written on the cheque did not exceed ₦10 million.

The EFCC counsel told the witness to examine the transactions of the 22nd, 23rd, and 25th of February, as well as the 3rd of March, 2016, up to 6th May, 2022.

He confirmed multiple transactions of N10 million each but admitted they were within the approval threshold, putting the total transactions as at January 31, 2018 at N707,267,000.

“Please confirm that, notwithstanding the multiple withdrawals made on the same day, they were all within the approved withdrawal threshold,” prosecution counsel said.

“Yes, my Lord,” the witness responded.

On the account statement of Aleshua Solutions Services and transactions from May 6, 2022, the witness said the first entry was a transfer in favour of Aleshua Solutions Services by B.O. Rosemary Chukwuma,  in the sum of $2,500.

“The second is a transfer in favour of Yau for $5,000. The third is also a cash transfer of $5,000 to Yau,” he stated.

The witness also confirmed certain transactions in December 2016 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service,  totalling N202 million.

The judge indicated that the session must end at 3 p.m. and adjourned the case to November 12 and 13, 2025, for continuation of examination of the sixth witness.

The third prosecution witness had, at the preceding hearing, said no banking regulation was breached by the defendants.

The witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with UBA, had also admitted not being the relationship or account manager of the Kogi Government House account, noting that the transactions were in line with stipulated guidelines.

The post EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Court adjourns to Nov 12 for continuation of witness’ examination appeared first on Frontpageng.

At the resumed hearing of the money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the former governor, his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that he had filed an application, dated 19th June, 2025 and filed on June 20, 2025.

“It seeks an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport by the registrar to enable him to travel for medical attention,” he said.

The counsel said the application was supported by an affidavit of 13 grounds in the face of the motion and supported by a 22 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by the applicant himself.

The EFCC counsels had filed a counter-affidavit, saying granting the request could delay further proceedings.

Daudu, SAN, in response to the prosecution team’s counter-affidavit, said the Defendant’s team had also filed a further affidavit of 20 paragraphs, filed on July 7, 2025, and deposed to by the applicant himself with two exhibits.

“Exhibits C is the CTC of the ruling of your lordship, admitting the defendant to bail, and Exhibit D is the ruling of FHC admitting him to bail.

“We adopt these documents in urging your lordship to grant our application,” he stated.

Responding to the Prosecution’s argument that the application was an abuse of court process in the sense that a similar application was filed at FHC, he argued that it could not be an abuse of court process.

He hinged his argument on the fact that it was the complainant that instituted those charges in the separate courts.

“It will be a futile exercise to apply in one court and not to apply in the other court,” Daudu, SAN submitted.

The prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebele, SAN, while defending the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, said the Defendant should have put his sureties on notice with regard to his application to travel out of the country.

According to him, the sureties need to decide whether they would want to continue to stand as sureties for him when he travels.

He added that by filing the same application at both the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, the Defendant’s Counsels were setting the courts on a collision course.

“If FHC refuses that application and my lord grants it, it will make mockery of our Judicial system,” the EFCC lawyer argued.

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Responding, Daudu SAN said, on the issue of suretyship, the sureties were already aware.

“We need not put them on notice,” he said.

“Finally, on the interpol matter, it is a dead argument.

“He has never flouted your lordship’s order. They themselves have even forgotten about those red alerts,” the lawyer added, urging the court to grant the application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to July 17, 2025 for ruling.

The post Court adjourns to July 17 for ruling on Yahaya Bello’s application to travel appeared first on Frontpageng.

Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, said, at the conclusion of cross-examination on Friday, that he felt the need to make the clarification on the allegation raised by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, at the beginning of the day’s proceedings.

“My Lord, I wish to clarify the matter raised earlier before the commencement of proceedings. I was not harassed by any of the security details attached to the defendant.

“I was not harassed at all, and I felt the need to clarify this, my lord,” he stated.

The Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, also called the attention of the Judge to a story on the EFCC’s website, alleging that the Commission’s witness was harassed.

He also said the EFCC misrepresented the facts of the previous day’s court proceedings.

Responding, Pinheiro, SAN, said he would call the attention of the EFCC office to the matter.

The witness, during cross-examination by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the Defendant’s Counsel, also comfirmed that the former governor was neither a signatory to, nor connected with any of the accounts presented as evidence.

He admitted that, going through Exhibit 22A, from pages 24 to 413, Yahaya Bello was not also listed on any of the documents as a beneficiary of any transaction.

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“I am here to speak on the documents before me. From the document, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello’s name did not feature in any description or as beneficiary in any transaction in the documents before me,” he confirmed.

The compliance officer had earlier mentioned the signatories on the accounts managed for the Kogi State Government House Administration and also comfirmed letters that introduced those who replaced some key officials along the line.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected, saying that the Defendant’s counsel should restrict his question to the document and not ask the witness who benefitted.

“The witness is not an expert of law,” he argued.

“But the witness, as an expert, knows what to say,” Justice Nwite responded.

The witness had earlier explained that he supervises a cluster of 13 branches within Abuja and other places like Gwagwalada, University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello way, Baze University, Garki, and Garki Ultra Modern Market, among others.

He also admitted that his clusters did not extend beyond the Federal Capital Territory.

The witness was earlier told to identify the signatories to the accounts and their designations, considering the documents tendered as evidence.

He mentioned the names, ranging from the Permanent Secretary to the Chief Accountant, and accountant.

On the issue of harassment, the EFCC’s lawyer had raised an observation that the witness was harassed by one of the security details attached to the defendant.

The Defendant  counsel doubted the claim, noting that he had always known his client to be a man of peace.

He, however, assured the court that he would investigate the allegation and report back accordingly.

The judge thereafter urged the defendant’s counsel to thoroughly investigate the matter.

However, at the close of cross-examination, the prosecution witness sought the court’s permission to address the allegation made earlier.

The defendant’s counsel commended the witness for his honesty and integrity in coming forward to clarify the situation.

He then informed the court about the application for the retrieval of the Defendant’s travel documents.

But the prosecution said they had filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that the application was technically incompetent.

Pinherio said the same application was filed at the FCT High Court, adding that it was an abuse of court process.

Daudu, SAN, said the prosecution was the one guilty of abuse of court process.

“We were served with the counter affidavit yesterday and we, overnight, filed a further affidavit to the complainant’s counter affidavit with two exhibits as well.

“My lord, the substance of the application is for the release of his international passport in line with the conditions for the bail that if he needs, he has to apply to court.

“He has medical needs to attend to during the period of the vacation. After eight years of not traveling, he needs to attend to certain aspects of his health,” Daudu, SAN said.

The judge adjourned to July 3 and 4 for continuation of trial and July 21 for ruling on the application to travel.

Justice Nwite had, on Thursday, rejected a move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, Chief Executive Officer of Efab Property Limited, had, at a previous hearing, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State government or any of the local governments in the state to the account of the American school.

The post EFCC’s counsel lied, I wasn’t harassed by Yahaya Bello’s security aides, witness tells court appeared first on Frontpageng.

When the case was called, on Wednesday, for continuation of hearing, the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, told the court that he had no dealings with the three defendants throughout the transactions on the property at the centre of examination.

When asked to also confirm if the names of the defendants appeared on any of the transaction documents, the witness, Segun Adeleke, a manager at Efab Property Limited, said he did not know any of the three defendants.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Yahaya Bello Vs EFCC: No defendant paid money into our company’s account -Witnesses appeared first on Frontpageng.

The award was bestowed on him on Saturday, at the 70th anniversary of the union and book presentation held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja.

A former president of the NUJ, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, received the prestigious award on behalf of the former governor.

The honour, according to the president of the Nigeria Union Journalists, who signed former Governor Bello’s letter of nomination, alongside his Deputy, Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde, was in recognition of the former governor’s outstanding contributions to the welfare of journalists, especially in Kogi State, under his watch.

“We also acknowledge your immense contributions to journalism through the GYB Annual Workshop For Correspondents and Editors,” the letter reads in part.

According to the NUJ, former Governor Bello’s yearly event encouraged and trained no fewer than 200 media professionals per edition, across Nigeria, on developmental journalism and how to sharpen their writing skills.

Seasoned media chiefs and professors of journalism were also on ground as members of the jury in the essay competitions that followed the workshops, with cash and other prizes won each year.

While receiving the award, Bello thanked the national body of the NUJ for the recognition and promised to continue to support journalists’ welfare.

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Speaking through Senator Smart Adeyemi, the former governor also scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu high on current economic policies, which he said, were already yielding visible results.

He specifically said Kogi State, under the watch of Governor Usman Ododo, would deliver presidential victory to Tinubu in 2027, 100 per cent, noting that there was no space for opposition in the state.

The colourful anniversary and awards night had in attendance many dignitaries across all sectors.

Some of those who graced the occasion included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who represented President Bola Tinubu; former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former Minister of Youth and Sport and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to the President, Mr. Sunday Dare.

Governors of Kano, Gombe, Ondo, Oyo, Bauchi, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states, among others were present.

Some other governors were represented at the event.

The post NUJ@70: Yahaya Bello bags Lifetime Achievement Award on Media Empowerment appeared first on Frontpageng.

He would rather prefer to mark it privately, at his Abuja residence, as the day coincided with the birthday of one of his daughters, the message said.

At first, I wondered why he wouldn’t want to celebrate such a milestone, but then some comments on the groups mentioned the mood of the nation, particularly the sad Benue crisis, among others.

I was in Abuja for an advanced training programme and had an engagement around Asokoro, not far from the former Governor’s residence.

Whenever people talked about his residence, I always thought of Wuse Zone 4.

So when I saw the crowd and the very long queue of vehicles, I asked my Bolt driver what was going on and he said they were all going to Yahaya Bello’s house.

“Today is Yahaya Bello’s 50th birthday anniversary. All the people that are trekking are going there. That man is a spirit. Kogi people no dey take am joke (Kogi people don’t joke with him),” he said.

I wondered again how people managed to convince others about the exact opposite of the situation of things just with the kind of propaganda that Nigerians like.

I listened to goodwill messages, one after the other, even from those we thought were unrepentant enemies during the 2023 election, and I came to the conclusion that truly, former Governor Yahaya Bello is a hero of all times.

For 30 minutes, we were moving slowly, so I told the Bolt driver to stop, so I could satisfy the journalistic curiosity in me. I moved close to different people and asked them if they were invited for a birthday bash.

I didn’t go straight to the point so that I would get the true picture.

“They should have celebrated this birthday in a proper hall instead of inviting people to his residence and causing gridlock like this,” I said.

“They did not invite us o. But White Lion cannot be 50 years and he will say we should not come. We came to celebrate him on our own. Even if we don’t see him, one on one, we have satisfied ourselves that we came to celebrate him. We will post ourselves on Facebook,” one of those that I met dancing to the music they were playing themselves, said.

“They sent a notice that they are not celebrating. That is their own. 50 years? We will celebrate him on our own o. I even thought GYB was 70 years, with all the achievements he has recorded,” another said.

I went round, they were all so full of praises, counting all what he had done for the state, and saying that, though he chose a wonderful successor, they did not think anyone could impact the lives of people like Yahaya Bello did.

So, I told the Bolt guy to find his way back and called one of my bosses, a Managing Director of a national newspaper, who has links with the former Governor to please help me gain access to the residence.

I wanted to see the birthday boy and introduce myself.

I also wanted to apologise for some wrong impression in the past.

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I pushed through the crowd, and after about 15 minutes, someone came out of the compound to let me in. But there was hardly space to put my feet even in the compound. At last, I was ushered in. This was around 5 p.m. No space to sit. I just stood somewhere.

To cut this long story short, the array of former ministers, sitting ministers, former and sitting senators, traditional rulers, Federal representatives, House of Assembly members, all from the three senatorial districts of the state, showed the kind of influence Yahaya Bello has in his state, perhaps not really known outside.

I probed further and was told that beyond the propaganda by some people who want to make themselves popular by all means and beyond the bitter politics in Kogi, everyone knows that what Yahaya Bello has achieved in eight years, in terms of infrastructural development, in health, education and other critical sectors, including security, no Governor has gone near since the creation of the state.

I listened to goodwill messages, one after the other, even from those we thought were unrepentant enemies during the 2023 election, and I came to the conclusion that truly, former Governor Yahaya Bello is a hero of all times.

But before I end this short piece, I must say I left there unhappy.

I couldn’t meet the former governor, one on one, or take a picture with him. No one also served me food, probably because I was standing all through!

The last sentence is on a lighter note.

Finally, I wish the White Lion many more years of fulfilled dreams.

*Durojaiye, a journalist, was the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State between 2015 & 2019.

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