Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s N80.2bn fraud trial to April 3

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in the N80.2 billion fraud case to April 3, following the commencement of witness testimony by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the EFCC called its first witness, a property developer and chairman of Efab Properties Nigeria Limited, Fabian Nwora.

Nwora told the court that in 2020, his company sold a property in Maitama, Abuja, to one Shehu Bello for N550 million.

He later discovered that the name on the sale agreement was Dr. Bello Ohianyi.

He explained that in 2023, Shehu returned to Efab Properties, claiming the property was under EFCC investigation and requested a refund.

“The EFCC directed us to refund the N550 million to a designated account, which we did in two instalments—N400 million first, followed by N150 million,” he said.

Following his testimony, Justice Maryanne Anenih admitted the sale agreement and deed of assignment as exhibits and adjourned the trial to April 3, April 24, and May 6 for continuation.

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Earlier, the defence team, led by J.B. Daudu (SAN), had objected to the testimony, arguing that the prosecution failed to serve them witness statements.

However, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), dismissed the objections as a delay tactic.

Despite the protests, Justice Anenih ruled that the trial must proceed.