A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to July 8.
Bello is facing charges of alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to ₦110,446,470,089, contrary to Sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
He is standing trial on a 16-count charge alongside two Kogi State government officials — Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha.
According to the charge sheet seen by TheCable, the defendants allegedly diverted funds from the Kogi State treasury to acquire properties in high-end areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the EFCC’s first witness, Fabian Nwora, concluded his testimony. Nwora is the chairman of EFAB Property, the real estate firm involved in the transaction at the center of the case.
He told the court that initial negotiations for the property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, were opened with one Shehu Bello, but the deal was eventually concluded by Segun Adeleke, who is the EFCC’s second witness (PW2).
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, Adeleke told the court that Nwora briefed him on the property transaction in 2020.
He testified that the deal was finalized and a sum of ₦500 million was paid for the property.
Adeleke further revealed that Bello later returned to their office with the signed agreement, informing his chairman that he was no longer interested in the property due to the ongoing EFCC investigation.
During the proceedings, Pinheiro questioned NAIJAONPOINT about documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed regarding a property in the Gwarinpa area. NAIJAONPOINT confirmed that the documents were issued to Muhammed after he purchased one of the detached bungalows owned by EFAB Property Limited.
Joseph Daudu, counsel to the second defendant, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that there was no proper link between the documents and the foundation laid by NAIJAONPOINT . However, the court overruled the objection.
Under cross-examination by Daudu, NAIJAONPOINT stated that he had no direct dealings with the three defendants during the property transactions and confirmed that none of their names appeared on any transaction documents.