Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial as witness says withdrawals followed CBN rules

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to March 10, 11 and 12, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

The adjournment followed the testimony of the 10th prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc.

Egoro, who told the court he has been with the bank since May 2023, maintained under cross-examination that the cash withdrawals referenced in his testimony were in compliance with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The witness confirmed that one Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, previously mentioned in the proceedings as having made withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account, was a signatory to the account.

He added that documents in the account opening package identified Olanrewaju as a civil servant and Director of Accounts in the Kogi State Government Administration.

Egoro stated that as a bank official, he was not involved in the internal operations of the Government House account and could not ascertain the specific purposes of the withdrawals beyond what was indicated in the transaction details.

He also told the court that Bello was neither a local government chairman nor directly linked to any of the transactions presented in evidence, particularly those involving various local government areas in Kogi State and Fazab Business Enterprise.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), who was represented by Daudu (SAN), the witness confirmed that a transaction dated May 6, 2022, reflected payment for the supply of reading materials to Okene Local Government in the sum of N14,453,900.84.

He further stated that other payments captured in the records were for items such as sporting equipment, agrochemicals, farm inputs and medical consumables.

According to him, a N10.6m lodgement from Ibaji Local Government was designated for agrochemicals, N7.3m from Mopa Muro Local Government was for relief materials, while N9.9m from Ofu Local Government was for the procurement of agrochemicals.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court admitted in evidence a subpoena issued by the Managing Director of Access Bank, which included statements of account for the Kogi State Government House Administration from January 2016 to January 2024.

Also tendered were statements of accounts of 11 companies, including Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited and Keyless Nature Limited.

Counsel to the second and third defendants, Z.E. Abbas, objected to the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that the certificate of identification did not comply with the Evidence Act, stating that detailed arguments would be provided in his final written address.

However, prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), described the objection as speculative and said he would respond appropriately at the address stage.

Justice Maryann Anenih admitted the documents in evidence, noting that the weight to be attached to them would be determined at a later stage if necessary.

The Kogi Government House account statements were marked as Exhibits AH1 and AH2, while those of the companies were marked Exhibits AG to AR.

Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10, 11 and 12, 2026, for continuation of trial.