BLESSING OMALE, Abuja
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged money laundering involving more than ₦80 billion, continued on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with the court insisting on strict compliance with procedural requirements before admitting key documents.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
Proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, focused on the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc.
At the resumed hearing, lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the cross-examination of PW7, noting that the prosecution still had three witnesses available.
Egoro was thereafter called to the witness box, where he affirmed that he remained under oath.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that he appeared before the court pursuant to a subpoena.
He also acknowledged tendering several documents earlier admitted as Exhibits 32, 33(1–11), and 34.
Egoro further disclosed that he had previously testified before another Federal High Court in connection with the same set of documents.
However, he said he could not recall the specific defendants in that matter or whether he had testified as the second prosecution witness.
The defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from the other court proceedings.
While the prosecution did not oppose the admissibility of the documents in principle, Pinheiro raised a procedural objection, stressing that the defence had failed to present receipts showing payment for the CTCs.
Pinheiro maintained that without evidence of payment, the documents could not be properly admitted.
He also argued that the witness’s testimony had remained consistent throughout the proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, holding that the CTCs could only be admitted upon the presentation of receipts evidencing payment.
The defence subsequently informed the court that steps were being taken to retrieve the required receipts.
Further cross-examination centred on banking transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu.
The witness confirmed that a counter cheque payment was made at the Otukpo branch of Access Bank.
He also verified several transfers in favour of Abba Adaudu, including sums of ₦200,000 and ₦8 million.
On local government inflows, Egoro testified that payments into the accounts under scrutiny were made for specific and stated purposes.
He cited a transfer of ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply of medical items, ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022, for the supply of sporting materials, and ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.
The witness also told the court that entries contained in Exhibit 33(11) were consistent with normal banking transactions.
He added that while the account opening package for Fazab Oil was not immediately available, it could be retrieved if required.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.
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