The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, following proceedings on Thursday. The case, brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will resume on Friday for further hearings.
During Thursday’s session, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, called upon a witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), to testify. Abimbola confirmed that a subpoena had been served on the bank to provide the statement of account for one Maselina Njoku, spanning from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The subpoena was admitted as evidence and marked as ‘Exhibit 7’ by Justice Emeka Nwite.
Abimbola testified that the subpoena had requested details of 10 withdrawals made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu, amounting to N10 million each on December 12, 2018. These withdrawals were processed using cheques at the bank’s counter. However, during cross-examination by the defense, she clarified that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in relation to the Kogi Government House account, where the transactions were linked. Abimbola also stated that she was not the account officer for the Government House account, which was located in Lokoja, Kogi State, rather than Abuja, where she is based.
Defense attorney Joseph Daudu, SAN, pressed the witness on her role as a compliance officer, asking if it was her responsibility to protect the bank’s integrity. Abimbola confirmed this, stating that her duty involved safeguarding the bank against legal penalties, reputational damage, and financial losses. Daudu also questioned her about the account signatories, including Alhaji Yakubu Ismail, the Permanent Secretary. Abimbola acknowledged the presence of Ismail’s photo in the documents but confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in the account documents or related exhibits.
The defense team objected to a re-examination of the witness, but the judge allowed it after a brief exchange. Pinheiro, SAN, asked Abimbola about a signature on a document, which she initially disowned but later acknowledged under re-examination. This prompted another objection from Daudu, who challenged the witness’s admission. Daudu argued that he had the right to cross-examine the witness to challenge the accuracy of her statements.
In a tense moment, Daudu confronted Abimbola about a document she had signed, leading her to admit that she was not the person whose name appeared on the certification.
In addition to Abimbola’s testimony, the prosecution called another witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, from the American International School. Ohehomon presented evidence including the school’s account statements, admission letters for Bello’s children, and payment receipts. The prosecution also submitted a contractual agreement for post-paid school fees for the children, along with a letter from the EFCC to the school requesting a refund.
The court adjourned the case to Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. for the continuation of the trial.
