Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja made a significant ruling on Wednesday, dismissing an objection raised by Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, and his co-defendants.
The decision has cleared the way for the trial to begin, marking a crucial step forward in the court proceedings.
Persecondnews reports that the defendants, through their lawyers, raised an objection just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was about to present its first witness in the 16-count money laundering charge against them on Wednesday.
They argued that the EFCC had not provided them with all the relevant proof of evidence that would be used against them during the trial as required by law.
Anenih rejected the defendants’ request for an adjournment, observing that they had failed to submit a formal application to substantiate their objection.
The witness, Mr. Fabian Nwaora, a real estate businessman and owner of EFAB property, when he mounted the box to give his evidence-in-chief in the case, narrated how his company sold a property situated at No 1, Ikobosi Street, Maitama, Abuja, to one Shehu Bello for N550 million in 2020.
He testified that in 2023, Bello returned all the property documents to his company and disclosed that the property was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nwaora told the court that he was subsequently summoned by the EFCC, and as a result, he was instructed to refund the money into an account specified by the agency.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned until April 3.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is currently on trial for his alleged involvement in a massive N110 billion fraud scheme.
He is standing trial alongside two Kogi State Government officials, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire property including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Likewise, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
Persecondnews reported that the court had on December 10, 2024, remanded the former governor in Kuje prison, while it granted bails to his co-defendants.
Bello was later admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum by Justice Anenih on December 19, 2024, and secured his freedom the next day after meeting the bail conditions.
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