“Witnesses Testify in EFCC’s Money Laundering Case Against Yahaya Bello”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday officially opened its case in the N80.2 billion money laundering charge against former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Leading the charge, EFCC’s legal team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, presented two witnesses to testify against the former governor in the 19-count charge.
The first witness, Mr. Segun Adeleke, General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, described his knowledge of transactions involving properties in Maitama and Gwarinpa, Abuja. Adeleke revealed that his company sold a Maitama property for N500 million to Shehu Bello, though Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear on any title documents. He further confirmed that the second property in Gwarinpa, purchased by Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million, was also paid via bank transfer, but once again, Bello’s name did not appear in the title documents.
During cross-examination by Bello’s defense lawyer, Mr. J.B. Daudu, Adeleke maintained that the former governor’s name did not appear in the property titles, and he never encountered Bello personally.
The second witness, Mrs. Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified that her bank had been subpoenaed to produce documents, including the statement of account for the Kogi State Government House.
The court adjourned the case until March 6, allowing the second witness to complete her testimony. EFCC claims that Bello used five proxies to acquire 13 high-end properties in Abuja and Dubai with proceeds from alleged crimes. The commission also alleges that Bello concealed over N3 billion, passing it to proxies for safekeeping, and transferred over $700,000 to a U.S. bank account in violation of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
The former governor, who faces charges of public trust violation, denies all allegations and has pleaded not guilty, with bail granted pending the trial’s completion.
