ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING: COURT ADJOURNS EX-KOGI GOV YAHAYA BELLO’S TRIAL TO MAY

Read Time:2 Minute, 51 Second

By ‘Sefiu Ajape

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday adjourned proceedings in the alleged money laundering trial of former governor Yahaya Bello to May 6 and 7, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness.

The witness, Abdullahi Jamilu, who reviewed his initial statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to refresh his memory, said he made the statement on May 10, 2022.

He added, under cross-examination by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, that it was the only statement he submitted to the commission on the matter.

Jamilu, however, admitted that issues relating to Wales Oil and Gas, Forza, and Aleshua were not included in Exhibit 46. He also noted that the names listed in Exhibit 13, pages 1 to 13, were not contained in Exhibit 46.

He further confirmed during cross-examination that he was not the maker of Exhibit 13.

Justice Nwite had earlier dismissed the objection raised by the defendant’s counsel against the EFCC’s attempt to re-present Exhibit 46, describing the objection as speculative and misconstrued.

The witness also recalled giving similar evidence before Justice Egwuatu at the Federal High Court.

When reminded by defence counsel that he was the third prosecution witness (PW3) in that case, he said he could not remember the exact witness number. He, however, confirmed that the defendants in that matter were Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakuba Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadi Sadat.

Daudu subsequently tendered documents, which were admitted as Exhibit 47 without objection.

Upon reviewing the exhibit, the witness admitted that the transactions he testified about before Justice Egwuatu were the same as those in the present case.

He explained that he sought assistance from colleagues to facilitate dollar transfer payments because his personal accounts could not directly handle such transactions.

The witness also stated that the companies—Wales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas, and Aleshua Services—were not listed in Exhibit 46 because he was neither asked about them nor could he recall them at the time.

During his examination-in-chief by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness said he remembered giving one Ali, a police officer, some dollars on behalf of Abba Adaudu.

He added that the companies mentioned earlier—Aleshua Services, Wales Oil and Gas, and Forza Oil and Gas—were owned by his colleagues at the market.

The witness further stated that whenever he lacked sufficient dollar inflow to process transfers, he would contact colleagues and agree on an exchange rate.

According to him, the instruction to pay the American International School Abuja was given by Adaudu, who came with a friend for the transaction, although he could not recall the friend’s name.

He told the court that all transfers were successfully made to A.I.S.A., after which he forwarded the telex advice (transfer receipts) to Adaudu.

The witness was later asked to confirm that the documents in Exhibit 13 (P1–P14) were the telex advice and receipts for the school payments.

“Yes, but I just noticed that P13 and P14 are not part of the documents I tendered as part of the payment I made for the school fees,” he responded.

When asked, he listed the names of the students for whom the payments were made.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to May 6 and 7, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of PW12.