Court Adjourns Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s ₦80.2bn Money Laundering Trial to January 29

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed further proceedings in the ₦80.2 billion money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to January 29, 2026.

Bello, who governed Kogi State between 2016 and 2024, is standing trial on 19 counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging his involvement in large-scale financial misappropriation.

At the resumed hearing, the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, concluded his testimony and was discharged from the witness box.

EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, sought to tender a set of banking documents marked Exhibits 33 (1–11) and 34 through the witness. However, Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, objected, arguing that the documents were not known to the defendant and that the attached certificate of identification had been signed by another official, Faruk Idiaro, rather than the witness.

Responding, the prosecution maintained that while the certificate differed, the substantive bank records were valid and identical.

After a brief recess, the witness returned to clarify that the Kogi State Government House Administration’s account statement — spanning December 2018 to August 2021 — contained seven columns detailing various transactions. He further explained the meaning of each column under the prosecution’s guidance.

With the witness’s testimony completed, the court adjourned the matter until January 29, 2026, for continued hearing.

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