The Federal Capital Territory High Court has adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the alleged money laundering case to April 3, April 24, and May 6, 2024.
Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the hearing after the prosecution presented its first witness, Fabian Nworah, a property developer.
At the start of the hearing, Kemi Pinheiro, prosecution counsel, informed the court of his intention to call five witnesses. However, Justice Anenih stated that she could only take one witness due to other commitments. The judge also announced that the court would not sit on Thursday as previously scheduled.
Joseph Daudu, defence counsel, representing the first and second defendants, raised concerns about missing statements on oath for the second defendant. He noted that while the first defendant had not given any statements, the prosecution had yet to provide the defence with the necessary documents.
“We have not been served the statements of the second defendant, making it difficult for us to determine if we can represent him adequately,” Daudu argued.
“Legal proceedings should not be a ‘hide and seek’ game. The prosecution must provide witness statements in advance so we can prepare for cross-examination.”
Backing this claim, counsel for the third defendant, Abubakar Aliyu, urged the court to order the prosecution to provide statements from the second and third defendants. He also requested access to digital evidence referenced in the case file.
Aliyu stated, “I am applying that the court order the prosecution to provide us with copies of recovered digital devices and forensic reports mentioned on Page 14 of Volume 1 of the proof of evidence.”
Pinheiro rejected the defence’s claims, insisting that the proof of evidence had been served on the defendants since November 27.
“The constitutional provision they rely on does not require the prosecution to provide every document it uses,” he argued. “The law only mandates that we oblige the defence with the documents they specifically request.”
Pinheiro accused the defence of stalling proceedings and urged the court to continue with the trial. “We have already spent over an hour on these arguments,” he noted.
Justice Anenih questioned why the defence had not raised these concerns earlier in December. In response, Daudu explained that such applications could only be made after arraignment.
Despite defence objections, the judge denied an adjournment request and directed the prosecution to proceed.
The prosecution called its first witness, Fabian Nworah, a property developer with Efab Property Nigeria Limited.
Nworah testified that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him on February 8, 2023, regarding a property transaction involving Shehu Bello and EFAB Property. However, he did not mention Yahaya Bello’s name in his testimony.
According to Nworah, he sold a property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, to Shehu Bello, but the sale agreement listed the buyer as Dr. Bello Ohiani.
In 2023, Shehu Bello approached EFAB Property, stating that the EFCC was investigating the property. He returned all purchase documents and requested a refund of the N550 million paid for the property.
Nworah further testified that the EFCC later instructed EFAB Property to refund the entire sum to an EFCC-designated account, which the company did in two transactions.
He stated that he had no further contact with Shehu Bello or Bello Ohiani until December 2024, when the EFCC summoned him to testify in court.
After hearing the witness, the court adjourned proceedings to April 3, April 24, and May 6, 2024, for further hearings.
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