Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has objected to developments in his ongoing trial on alleged N80.2 billion fraud charges as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to permit the tendering of further evidence, according to court proceedings on Tuesday.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency charged him with alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust related to the acquisition of properties and transfers of funds alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The trial follows earlier court actions in which the former governor pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail pending the determination of the case.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the prosecution produced bank compliance officers as witnesses and sought to tender records and other exhibits relating to accounts and transactions the EFCC says are relevant to its case.
The prosecution witness, identified as the tenth prosecution witness, testified on deeds and documentation involving property transactions, including how certain instruments were executed.
The witness said the Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS) is the only body authorised to register and certify such documents.
Earlier in the proceedings, other bank compliance officers from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Polaris Bank testified regarding accounts allegedly used for transactions at the centre of the EFCC’s investigation.
After listening to both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to March 9 for the court to rule on the matters raised and to address further procedural aspects of the trial.
No new direct quotes were published from Bello or EFCC representatives in the available report of the March 3 proceedings.
The continuation of the trial and the EFCC’s attempts to introduce additional evidence occur amid broader national attention on high-profile corruption cases and anti-graft enforcement in Nigeria. The case remains pending before the Federal High Court in the nation’s capital.
