Dispute over bank documents stalls progress in Yahaya Bello’s trial

A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering trial of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, to January 29, 2026.

Emeka Nwite fixed January 29, 30, and February 4 and 5 for continuation of trial after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) closed examination of its seventh witness on Tuesday.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sought to tender documents marked as “Exhibits 33 (1–11)” and “Exhibits 34” through the seventh witness, Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank.

But Abdullahi Yahaya, the defence counsel, objected, saying the exhibits being shown in court were unfamiliar to the defendant.

He argued that the certificate attached to the documents was not signed by the witness but by Faruk Idiaro.

Yahaya said the documents were also not frontloaded in the proof of evidence served on the defendant.

Pinheiro countered that although the certificate of identification might differ, the documents it covered were identical. He urged the court to stand down proceedings to allow the defence to verify the records.

Consequently, Nwite briefly stood the matter down, asking both sides to reconcile the discrepancies.

When proceedings resumed, Egoro explained the seven columns in the statement of account and detailed transactions carried out from the Kogi state government house administration account between December 2018 and August 2021.

The witness identified cash payments made on December 21, 2018, to Aminu J.O, totalling N50 million in tranches of N10 million each, and withdrawals in multiples of N10 million in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu on August 1, 2019.

He also reviewed Exhibit 33-8, which is the statement of Fazac Business Enterprise covering January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, and noted inflows from local governments ranging from N4.49 million to N14.45 million on May 6, 2022, and two further inflows of N7.12 million and N9.4 million on May 9.

After taking the witness’s testimony, Nwite adjourned further proceedings to January 29, 30, and February 4 and 5.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion.