The money-laundering trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was on Tuesday adjourned to January 29, 30 and February 4 and 5, 2026, following a fresh dispute between the prosecution and the defence team over documentary evidence presented in court.
Naijaonpoint reports that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, shifted proceedings to allow the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), to conclude the examination of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s seventh witness, Olomotame Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank.
At the resumed hearing, Pinheiro sought to tender documents labelled Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34, while leading Egoro in evidence. But the defence immediately objected.
Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), argued that the exhibit being demonstrated was “not known” to the defendant, insisting that the attached certificate of identification was irregular.
According to him, “The certificate dated the 17th was signed by one Faruk Idiaro and not NAIJAONPOINT in the box. What the prosecution has tendered is not the same as what was served on the defendant.”
EFCC Counters Objection
In response, Pinheiro maintained that although the certificate of identification might differ, “the substantive documents are the same” as those served earlier.
He urged the court to stand the matter down briefly to enable the defence to confirm the authenticity of the documents.
Justice Nwite granted the request and asked both parties to reconcile their positions before the trial could continue.
When the proceedings resumed, the EFCC witness explained details of the Kogi State Government House Administration account from December 2018 to August 2021, confirming that the statement contained seven columns, including dates, narration, withdrawals, deposits and balances.
Egoro identified cash payments made on December 21, 2018, in favour of one Aminu J.O., totalling ₦50 million in multiples of ₦10 million.
He also highlighted several cash withdrawals made on August 1, 2019, by Abdulsalam Hudu, noting that the pattern showed repeated withdrawals in tranches of ₦10 million.
The prosecution also led him through Exhibit 33-8, a statement belonging to Fazac Business Enterprise from January 2019 to December 2022.
Egoro pointed out inflows from several local governments on May 6, 2022, ranging between ₦4.49 million and ₦14.45 million, as well as additional credited sums on May 9, including ₦7.12 million and ₦9.4 million.
He confirmed that the account showed sizeable withdrawals after the inflows.
With more documents to be reviewed and further cross-examination pending, Justice Nwite adjourned the continuation of trial to the new dates.
Naijaonpoint reports that the adjournment came a day after the fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, testified that the withdrawals made from the state government’s account did not breach any banking law.
During Monday’s session, Bata noted under cross-examination that: “The name of the former governor did not appear as a beneficiary in the account presented as evidence.”
The EFCC insists the transactions form part of a wider probe into alleged money laundering involving public funds running into billions of naira during Bello’s tenure as governor.
The trial will resume in January 2026.
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