JUST IN: EFCC tenders 13 exhibits in trial of ex-Kogi governor Yahaya Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tendered 13 exhibits in the ongoing trial of former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello before the FCT High Court.

Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc and prosecution witness 10 (PW10), presented the documents during proceedings, including account opening packages and statements of account linked to the Kogi state government house administration and contractors connected to the transactions under investigation.

Counsel to the second and third defendants objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the accompanying certificate of identification did not comply with the Evidence Act.

The defence said it would address the issue fully in its final written address.

Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to the EFCC, described the objection as premature and speculative, adding that the prosecution would respond at the appropriate stage.

The court admitted the documents provisionally, stating that their evidential weight would be determined after arguments on the objections.

During examination-in-chief, Egoro outlined inflows and outflows from the government house administration account and also testified on bank records of Fazab Business Enterprise covering transactions between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2024.

Under cross-examination by Paul Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that Fazab Business Enterprise had contractual relationships with several local government areas and that payments were linked to the procurement of educational materials, medical consumables, agricultural inputs and relief supplies.

He acknowledged that he was not the account relationship manager for the local government or contractor accounts and confirmed that Bello did not serve as chairman of any local government during the period under review.

Egoro also testified on transactions involving Westwood Motors Limited, stating that multiple deposits made by local governments were described as loan repayments.

He did not link Bello directly to any of the transactions as a beneficiary or signatory authorising the payments.

The trial was adjourned to March 10, 11 and 12 for continuation of hearing.