One out of the two witnesses called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court on Monday that the name of the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello was not linked to any property document.
The first witness, one Segun Adeleke the General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, was asked to tell the court what he knows about a property on 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama and another one in Gwarinpa.
While giving an account of what transpired, he said sometime in 2020, his chairman, Fabian Nwora, introduced him to a young man called Shehu Bello and that they had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property at a price of 550 million naira.
When asked if he had seen Shehu Bello since then he said, he had seen him three times.
Adeleke noted that the first time was for introduction, the second time for payment and the third time was when he brought a legal document for the execution of the EFAB property.
The EFCC lawyer then mentioned another property at 5th Avenue in Gwarinpa and told the witness to tell the court what he knows about it.
In Adeleke’s response, he said the property was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million and was paid for through a bank transfer, but cannot remember the name of the bank.
During cross-examination, by the defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness told the court that his actions were based on the instructions of his chairman and that he did not initiate any discussion with Shehu Bello on his own.
On the issue of documents signed for the transactions, the witness confirmed that Shehu Bello did not sign his own part in his presence.
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Adeleke also mentioned to the court that the name of the former governor did not reflect on any of the two properties being examined and that he did not sight Bello throughout the transactions.
After the first witness was done with, the Prosecution counsel then told the court that they had another witness to call, on subpoena, which Daudu objected to initially, noting that they were being taken by surprise, but later added that he had no intention of stalling the trial.
When the second witness was called to stand, she identified herself as Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA.
She had the subpoena with her, which the lawyer sought to tender as evidence before the court.
The witness then went on to read out the documents the subpoena asked for, which include the statement of account of Kogi State Government House, from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2024.
The statements of account of one Maselina Njoku, from January 1 to December 31, 2022, were also admitted in evidence, including the account opening packages of American International School and statements of accounts, from September 1 to September 30, 2020.
After the subpoenaed witness gave evidence, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned trial to March 6 and 7, 2025.
Yahaya Bello is facing a Nineteen count charge bothering on fraud to the tune of 80.2 billion naira.
He was however granted bail to the tune of 500 million naira and two sureties in like sum.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
