The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to November 12, 2025.
Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the new date after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its sixth witness during Thursday’s proceedings.
At the resumed hearing, the fifth prosecution witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, testified about transactions linked to the disputed accounts.
She said several credits were made into the accounts, often in tranches of ₦10 million, with total inflows for November 2021 reaching ₦450 million.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, Oluwafemi admitted she was not the account officer or relationship manager for the accounts. She added that she could not explain how the transactions were initiated.
Counsel to the second defendant, A.M. Aliyu, also questioned her on an exhibit that did not contain the name “Abdulsalam Hudu,” which she confirmed.
The EFCC later called its sixth witness, Mshelia Arhyel, who was also cross-examined. Daudu informed the court that his cross-examination of the same witness in a related case was still ongoing before another judge.
Justice Anenih, however, ruled that the matter before her court would proceed independently.
The prosecution sought to tender documents through the witness, but the defence objected, arguing that they did not meet the conditions under Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.
Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to admit them. The judge later admitted a 218-page statement of account belonging to Alusha Services as Exhibit P1.
The witness said that before 2023, there were no restrictions on withdrawals provided each cheque did not exceed ₦10 million.
He added that total transactions as of January 31, 2018, stood at ₦707.3 million, with other inflows, including ₦202 million from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
Justice Anenih adjourned the matter to November 12 and 13 for continuation of the sixth witness’s examination.