The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged money laundering took a new turn on Monday as a prosecution witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-governor’s name was not connected to the property transactions under scrutiny.
The 10th prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, an accountant with Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, stated during cross-examination that Bello was neither involved in the transaction nor present at any stage of the deal.
Abdulazeez identified two key documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): an Irrevocable Power of Attorney between Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited and Azab Real Estate Limited, and a Deed of Assignment between the same parties. The documents were admitted as Exhibits 42 and 43 by Justice Emeka Nwite after a brief ruling on their admissibility.
While being questioned by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness noted that the Deed of Assignment did not contain the value of the property involved in the transaction. Drawing from his 25 years of experience as an accountant, Abdulazeez told the court he had never encountered such a document without a stated value.
“In all my 25 years of experience, I have not received documents relating to property sales that did not contain the value of the property,” he said.
He further explained that the transaction was handled between Dantata and Sawoe and Azab Real Estate Limited, with the companies’ representatives signing the relevant documents. According to him, the firm’s directors signed on behalf of Dantata and Sawoe, while Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azab Real Estate Limited.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite ruled that the documents tendered by the prosecution were admissible despite objections from the defence. The judge held that although the documents qualified as public documents under Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act, the prosecution had clarified that they were tendered merely to establish the existence of a transaction, not to prove ownership of the property.
The prosecution subsequently called its 11th witness, James Igbakule, a legal practitioner, who testified regarding a property located at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 District, Abuja. Igbakule said the payment for the property was made in three instalments.
He explained that he was contacted by one Shehu Bello after his client, SFC Foods Limited, engaged him to facilitate the sale of the property. According to him, he later received an invitation from an EFCC official identified as Mohammed, who informed him that his name had surfaced during an ongoing investigation.
During cross-examination, Igbakule told the court he was seeing the former Kogi governor for the first time and had never conducted any business with him.
The prosecution also presented a 12th witness, Jemilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator. Abdullahi confirmed that he was familiar with some of the companies mentioned in the case but stated that his dealings were primarily with Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited.
He further told the court that he processed several cash transactions in multiples of N10 million for an individual identified as Abba Adaudu.
Following a brief recess, defence counsel Daudu informed the court that he had filed an application seeking the removal of the red alert issued against Bello prior to his court appearance. He argued that allowing the defendant to travel while the red notice remained in place was contradictory.
According to him, “Granting permission to travel without lifting the red alert is like giving something with one hand and taking it away with the other.”
Responding, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said the earlier approval granted by the court allowed the defendant to travel abroad for 10 days during the Ramadan period, beginning March 13.
Justice Nwite, however, said the issues raised required careful consideration before a decision could be made.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to April 22, 23, and 24, as well as May 6 and 7, for the continuation of the trial.
