The high-profile fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been adjourned, leaving many Nigerians on the edge of their seats. Accused of a staggering ₦80.2 billion fraud, the case took an unexpected turn in court. Get the inside scoop on the testimonies, the evidence, and what this means for the future of the trial!
Quick Recap: Key Points in the Yahaya Bello Trial
- Trial adjourned to March 6th and 7th, 2025.
- EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) is prosecuting the case.
- Two prosecution witnesses gave testimonies.
- Property transactions and bank records scrutinized.
Property Deals Under Scrutiny
Segun Adeleke, General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, was the first witness. He revealed details about property transactions in Abuja. Imagine this: huge sums of money changing hands for luxury properties in Maitama and Gwarinpa! Adeleke testified that while he facilitated the sales, he never actually met Yahaya Bello in person, and the ex-governor’s name wasn’t on any documents.
The ₦550 Million Payment in Dollars!
Adeleke recounted a particular transaction involving a property on Ikogosi Road, Maitama. Apparently, Shehu Bello (introduced by Chief Dr Fabian Nwora) paid a whopping ₦550 million in U.S. dollars! Can you picture that? They even had to confirm the exchange rate with a Bureau de Change on the spot.
Another Property, Another Mysterious Buyer
Then there’s the Gwarinpa property. According to Adeleke, one Nuhu Mohammed purchased it for ₦70 million via a bank transfer. No direct contact with Yahaya Bello here either.
UBA Compliance Officer Drops a Bombshell
Next up was Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer from UBA (United Bank for Africa). Under subpoena, he presented some very interesting bank records. These included statements from the Kogi State Government House account (covering 2016-2024) and accounts belonging to Macelina Njoku and the American International School, Abuja. These documents were admitted as evidence without any objections!
Defense Raises Questions
During cross-examination, Joseph Daudu, the defense counsel, grilled Adeleke about direct interactions with Yahaya Bello. Adeleke maintained that he never interacted with Bello during any of the transactions. This raises a crucial question: If Bello wasn’t directly involved, who was pulling the strings?
What’s Next?
The court has adjourned the case to March 6th and 7th, 2025, for further hearing. This trial is far from over, and many more twists and turns are expected. Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this high-stakes legal drama. Will the EFCC be able to prove their case? Or will Yahaya Bello walk free? Only time will tell!
Did you know? The EFCC was established in 2003 to combat financial crimes like money laundering and fraud in Nigeria. They have the power to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals involved in these crimes.