The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further hearing in the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello until 6 and 7 May 2026, as cross-examination of a key prosecution witness continues.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering totalling ₦80.2bn, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The adjournment follows a ruling a day earlier in which the court dismissed the defence’s objection to the re-presentation of Exhibit 46 — the witness’s prior statement to the EFCC — describing the challenge as speculative and misconstrued.
At Friday’s sitting, the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Jamilu, told the court under cross-examination that he made only one statement to the EFCC, dated 10 May 2022. However, he acknowledged that several entities — including Wales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas and Aleshua Services — were not mentioned in that statement.
He also confirmed that names listed in another document, Exhibit 13, were absent from Exhibit 46, and said he was not the author of the former.
Questioned by defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, Jamilu recalled testifying in a related case before another judge of the Federal High Court, though he could not remember his witness number. He agreed that defendants in the earlier matter included Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakuba Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadi Sadat.
During proceedings, additional documents tendered by the defence were admitted without objection as Exhibit 47. On reviewing them, the witness conceded that the transactions referenced in the earlier case were the same as those under scrutiny in the current trial.
Jamilu told the court he relied on associates to facilitate dollar transactions because his accounts could not process such transfers directly. The companies named, he said, belonged to colleagues whom he contacted when he needed foreign currency, agreeing exchange rates to complete transactions.
He further testified that he once handed over dollars to a police officer identified as Ali on behalf of Abba Adaudu, and that payments to the American International School, Abuja, were made on Adaudu’s instruction.
According to the witness, he executed the transfers and forwarded telex advice as proof of payment. When shown Exhibit 13, he confirmed it contained telex advice and receipts for school fees but pointed out discrepancies, noting that some pages were not part of the documents he originally submitted.
Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the case for continuation of cross-examination, as the high-profile trial edges into its next phase.
