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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A prosecution witness, Olusegun Adeleke has told the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello did not participate in all the transactions that led to purchase of N550M in Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by one Shehu Bello.
Adeleke, who is a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the evidence while testifying in the money laundering charges against the former governor.
Adeleke who is the General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited further told the court that Bello’s name never featured in all documents relating to transactions including the title deed.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, he narrated how the Chairman of EFAB properties Limited, Fabian Nwora invited him to transactions by Sheu Bello on the purchase of the property located at No 1, Ikogosi street in Maitama Abuja.
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.
“We had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property in question. And he told me that the young man would be coming back to make payment for the property at an agreed price of N550 million,” he said.
When asked if he had seen Shehu Bello since that day, he said,”I saw him three times. 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.
Responding, the witness said the property was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million and was paid for through a bank transfer.
He was asked if he remembered which bank the money came from, but he said no.
The EFCC witness explained that upon conclusion of transactions, Sheu Bello made payment for the property and receipt and letter of allocation delivered to him.
He however, said that the said Sheu Bello changed the transactions when he came back for refund of his money upon discovery that the house was under EFCC investigation.
Under cross examination by Joseph Bodunde Daudu, SAN, lead counsel to Yahaya Bello, the witness admitted having transactions with Sheu Bello three times.
He said that throughout the transactions, he did not sight Yahaya Bello while his name did also not feature in any of the documents on the transactions including the title deed.
The witness said that he didn’t see Sheu Bello who purchased the property in court.
Asked if the witness’ actions were purely based on the instructions of his chairman. He responded, “Yes.”
The defence counsel further asked whether it was correct to say that he did not initiate any discussion with Shehu Bello on his own, to which he also answered, “Yes.”
On the documents signed for the transactions, the Defendant’s Counsel asked the witness if he could confirm that Shehu Bello signed his own part in his presence.
“He did not my Lord,” he answered.
Daudu, SAN, also asked: “Throughout this transaction, did you set eye on the defendant?”
“Not at anytime in the course of this transaction,” the witness responded.
He was also asked if the name of the defendant appeared anywhere on the documents he said were with the EFCC.
He, again, answered, “no!”
The Prosecution then told the court that they had another witness to call, on subpoena.
The Defendant’s Counsel objected that they were being taken by surprise but added that he had no intention of stalling the trial.
The second witness 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.
The Defendant’s counsel had no objection and it was marked “Exhibit 1”.
The witness read out the documents the subpoena asked for to include the statement of account of Kogi State Government House, from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2024.
The statements of account of 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.
Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite has further adjourned the case to March 6 and 7 for continuation of trial.
The court had on Friday, December 13, 2024, granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
This was after the former governor pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, bordering on alleged N80bn money laundering offences.
