The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, opened its case in the N80.2billion money laundering charge it initiated against the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The commission, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, produced two witnesses that testified in the 19-count charge it entered against the defendant.
The first witness, Mr. Segun Adeleke, who identified himself as the General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, told the court that he was aware of transactions relating to a property at No 1, Ikogosi Crescent, Maitama, as well as another one in Gwarinpa.
He told the court that though it was his company that sold the property at Maitama to one Shehu Bello for the sum of N500million, he said the name of the former governor did not reflect in the title documents.
Giving an account of what transpired, he said it was his chairman, Chief Fabian Nwora that introduced Shehu to him sometime in 2020.
“We had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property in question. And he told me that the young man would be coming back to make payment for the property at an agreed price of N550 million.”
He told the court that the second property in Gwarinpa was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70m with the payment effected through a bank transfer.
While being cross-examined by ex-governor Bello’s lawyer, Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, the witness told the court that the defendant’s name did not reflect in any title document relating to the two properties.
“I did not set eyes on the defendant at anytime and his name did not appear anywhere in the title documents,” he added.
The second witness, Mrs. Williams Abimbola, told the court that she is a Compliance Officer with the United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA.
The witness said her bank was subpoenaed to produce documents before the court, among which she said included the statement of account of the Kogi State Government House.
Meanwhile, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till March 6 to enable the second witness to conclude her evidence.
Specifically, EFCC alleged that he used five proxies to acquire 13 choice properties in highbrow areas of Abuja and Dubai.
It told the court that the properties were acquired with proceeds of crime.
Besides, the anti-graft agency alleged that the former governor attempted to conceal over N3bn by handing same to proxies to keep for him.
It further told the court that the defendant wired over $700, 000 to an account he maintained with a bank in the United States of America, USA, in breach of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Among those that were fingered in the alleged fraud, included the former governor’s nephew, Ali Bello and four others- Dauda Suleiman, Shehu Bello, Rabiu Musa and Abdulsalam Hudu who is currently at large.
According to the EFCC, the defendant, by his action, committed public breach of trust, contrary to section 18(a) and (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, and punishable under section 15 of the same Act.
The former governor had since pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as he was granted bail by the court, pending the conclusion of his trial.
