The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted two disputed documents in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The tenth prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, a staff member of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, maintained that the former governor’s name was not linked to the transactions before the court, affirming that Bello neither participated in nor was present during the transactions relating to the property under investigation.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, Abdulazeez identified Exhibit 42 as the Irrevocable Power of Attorney between Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited and Azab Real Estate Limited, and Exhibit 43 as the Deed of Assignment between the two companies.
Justice Nwite admitted the documents after overruling objections raised by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu.
During cross-examination, Abdulazeez noted that Exhibit 43 did not state the value of the property involved, stating that in his over 25 years of experience as an accountant, he had never encountered a property transaction document that failed to indicate the value of the property being sold.
The witness further stated that Bello was not involved in the transaction and was never seen at the company’s office during the process.
According to him, the documents were signed by the directors of Dantata and Sawoe, while Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azbar Real Estate Limited.
In his earlier ruling, Justice Nwite held that the central issue was whether the documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were admissible under Sections 108, 102, and 104 of the Evidence Act.
The judge agreed with the defence that the documents qualified as public documents under Section 102 but accepted the prosecution’s argument that they were tendered to establish the existence of a transaction rather than to prove title to the property.
Following the ruling, the prosecution called its 11th witness, James Igbakule, a legal practitioner, who testified about a property located at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2, Abuja.
He told the court that payment for the property was made in three tranches and that he was contacted by one Shehu Bello after his client, SFC Foods Limited, instructed him to sell the property.
Igbakule also said he was later invited by the EFCC after his name appeared during the agency’s investigation.
The witness, During cross-examination, stated that he was seeing Yahaya Bello for the first time in court and had never had any dealings with him.
The prosecution also presented its 12th witness, Jemilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator, who confirmed transactions mainly with Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited, including cash transactions in multiples of N10 million by one Abba Adaudu.
Meanwhile, defence counsel Joseph Daudu informed the court that he had filed an application seeking the removal of a red alert issued against Bello before his appearance in court.
He argued that granting permission to travel while leaving the red notice in place would amount to giving relief with one hand and taking it away with the other.
Responding, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro noted that the court had earlier granted Bello permission to travel abroad for 10 days during the Ramadan period beginning March 13. He added that any request to travel outside that period would require a fresh application.
Justice Nwite said he would consider the submissions before delivering a ruling and then adjourned the matter to April 22, 23 and 24, as well as May 6 and 7, for continuation of trial.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
