No power of attorney for Yahaya Bello on flagged property, EFCC witness says

A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State governor, on Thursday told the court that no Power of Attorney was presented on behalf of the former governor or the second defendant during the sale of a property currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The witness, James Igbakuleh, a legal practitioner with 28 years of experience, gave the testimony while appearing as the 11th prosecution witness before Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. The case involves allegations of money laundering against Bello and two other defendants.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, Igbakuleh stated that the individual who approached him regarding the property transaction did not present any legal authority to act on behalf of the former governor or the second defendant, Shuaib Oricha. He also revealed that the deed of assignment related to the property was not signed by the alleged purchaser.

“Confirm that the deed of assignment was not signed by the purchaser,” Daudu asked the witness.

“It was not signed. I signed my portion and gave it to them,” Igbakuleh replied.

The witness further clarified that he had never met any of the defendants during the transaction process. According to him, he was first contacted by a man identified as Shehu Bello after his client, SFC Foods Limited, asked him to handle the sale of a property located on Adetokunbo Ademola Street in Wuse II, Abuja, in 2021.

Igbakuleh told the court that payments for the property were made into three separate accounts as directed by his client. However, he added that nearly ten months after the transaction had been concluded, he was invited by an EFCC official who informed him that his name had appeared in an ongoing investigation.

During the proceedings, the witness identified documents related to the transaction, including a counter-offer letter and a deed of assignment addressed to Shehu Bello. The court admitted the documents into evidence and marked them as Exhibits AV1 and AV2.

Under further questioning, the witness acknowledged that he neither prepared the deed of assignment nor signed it in the presence of the purchaser.

Earlier in the hearing, the 10th prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, also testified under cross-examination that none of the deposits or withdrawals recorded in the bank account presented before the court were carried out by the third defendant, Abdulsalam Hudu. Egoro also said he could not confirm whether medical items allegedly linked to payments from Okehi Local Government were ever supplied.

The EFCC subsequently called its 12th witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, the Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited. Abdulazeez told the court that his company sold a plot of land in Gwarimpa, Abuja, to Azbar Real Estate Limited on February 17, 2021, with payments made in three instalments.

He stated that the deed of assignment and power of attorney for the transaction were signed by Mubarak Dantata and Nasir Dantata on behalf of the construction firm, while Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azbar Real Estate.

When the prosecution attempted to tender the documents as evidence, defence counsel objected, arguing that the documents were public records and had not complied with certification requirements under Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

However, the prosecution maintained that the documents were properly certified. Justice Anenih overruled the objections and admitted the documents as Exhibits AW1 and AW2.

Additional witnesses later testified about other property transactions and financial records presented by the prosecution, including payments made to the American International School, Abuja, for students bearing the surname “Bello.” The payments, made by companies including Forza Oil and Gas Limited and Whales Oil and Gas Limited, ranged between $11,000 and $49,600 and were reportedly made under an agreement for advance school fee payments.

Following the proceedings, the EFCC informed the court that it still had several witnesses left to call. Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned the case to May 5, May 8, and June 16–17, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications and continuation of trial.

kenneth Athekame

Athekame Kenneth is a politics, economy, and finance reporter whose work is anchored in sharp investigative storytelling. He brings analytical depth to every piece, drawing on a strong academic foundation that includes a degree in Economics, an MBA in International Trade, and a minor in Petroleum Economics from Lagos State University, Ojo. His reporting blends rigorous research with a keen eye for hidden truths, delivering stories that illuminate power, policy, and the forces shaping everyday lives.