Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial to Nov 12

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to November 12, 2025.

Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the new date after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its sixth witness during Thursday’s session.

A Polaris Bank compliance officer, Victoria Oluwafemi, who appeared as the fifth prosecution witness, told the court that several payments were made into the disputed accounts, mostly in sums of ₦10 million.

She said the total inflow into the account for November 2021 stood at ₦450 million. Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, she admitted she was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager, and could not explain how the transactions were processed.

Counsel to the second defendant, A.M. Aliyu, also questioned her on an exhibit that did not contain the name “Abdulsalam Hudu,” which she confirmed.

The anti-graft agency later called its sixth witness, Mshelia Arhyel, who was also cross-examined. Daudu informed the court that he had not completed the cross-examination of the same witness in a separate case before another judge, but Justice Anenih ruled that the ongoing matter was distinct.

The prosecution sought to tender a set of documents through the subpoenaed witness, a move opposed by the defence on the grounds that they did not comply with Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.

However, EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to accept them, and Justice Anenih admitted the 218-page statement of account belonging to Alusha Services as Exhibit P1.

The witness testified that before 2023, withdrawals were allowed as long as each cheque did not exceed ₦10 million. He added that by January 31, 2018, the account had recorded total transactions worth ₦707.3 million, including ₦202 million from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in December 2016.

Justice Anenih adjourned the matter until November 12 and 13 for continuation of the hearing and further cross-examination of the witness.

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