NEWS ANALYSIS: Three Days in Court — How EFCC’s Case Against Yahaya Bello Faces Repeated Gaps, Unlinked Transactions, and Witness Limitations
The ongoing money‑laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has entered a revealing phase, with three consecutive court sessions exposing recurring weaknesses in the prosecution’s attempt to directly link the former governor to the transactions under scrutiny. Across testimonies from construction officials, legal practitioners, and bank compliance officers, a consistent pattern has emerged: none of the witnesses so far has tied Bello personally to the financial dealings being examined.
This PRNigeria‘s analysis reviews the three sessions, the testimonies, and what they collectively suggest about the trajectory of the case.
1. Day One: Documents Admitted, But Witness Says Bello Was Not Involved
The first session saw the EFCC tender two key documents—an Irrevocable Power of Attorney and a Deed of Assignment—linked to a property transaction involving Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company and Azab Real Estate Limited. Although the defence objected, Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the documents.
But the prosecution’s victory on admissibility did not translate into substantive progress.
The 10th prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, an accountant with 25 years’ experience, made two critical admissions:
– The documents did not contain the value of the property, something he described as unusual in his entire career.
– He never saw Yahaya Bello participate in, or appear anywhere near, the transaction.
He further clarified that the documents were executed by company representatives—not by Bello.
The 11th and 12th witnesses, a legal practitioner and a Bureau De Change operator, also testified that they had never met Bello, nor had any business with him. Their testimonies focused on payments and transactions involving third parties, not the former governor.
The session ended with a procedural tussle over a red alert issued against Bello, with the defence arguing that the order contradicted the court’s earlier permission for him to travel.
2. Day Two: Bank Official Confirms No Trace to Bello, No CBN Rules Broken
The second session shifted to banking records. Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, told the court that:
– The transactions under review did not breach any Central Bank of Nigeria rules.
– Neither Yahaya Bello nor the second defendant appeared in any of the bank’s transaction records.
– There was no Post No Debit (PND) order on the account in question.
– A Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) was filed, but he emphasized that an STR is only a suspicion, not proof of wrongdoing.
Egoro also confirmed that he could not identify the nature of several transfers involving companies like Fazab Business Enterprise, Ejadams Essence Limited, and individuals such as Abba Adaudu—again underscoring the absence of a direct link to Bello.
Read Also:
The witness further admitted that he had only joined Access Bank in May 2023, meaning he had no personal knowledge of earlier transactions.
3. Day Three: Witness Says Transactions Pre‑Date His Employment, No CBN Rules Broken
The third session reinforced the same pattern.
Under cross‑examination, Egoro clarified that:
– The transactions between 2016 and 2023 occurred before he joined Access Bank.
– He was not the account officer for the accounts being examined.
– All withdrawals made by individuals such as Yakubu Abenege were approved by the bank.
– The bank did not violate any CBN regulations.
– Inflows from local governments, including Okehi LGA, were properly narrated—for example, payments for medical supplies.
He again confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear in the transactions.
Emerging Pattern: Transactions Exist, But the Link to Bello Remains Elusive
Across the three sessions, a clear pattern has emerged:
1. Witnesses repeatedly state they have never met Bello and never saw him involved.
From construction officials to lawyers to bank staff, none has testified to any direct involvement by the former governor.
2. The transactions under scrutiny involve third parties, companies, and government accounts—not Bello personally.
3. Bank officials insist no banking rules were breached.
This weakens the prosecution’s attempt to frame the transactions as inherently suspicious or unlawful.
4. Key witnesses lack firsthand knowledge of the transactions.
Egoro, the bank compliance officer, joined the bank after many of the transactions occurred.
5. EFCC’s documents establish the existence of transactions, but not the defendant’s involvement.
Even the judge noted that the documents were admitted only to show that a transaction occurred—not to prove ownership or guilt.
Legal Implications: A Case Built on Circumstantial Links?
The EFCC’s strategy appears to rely heavily on:
– Document trails
– Suspicious Transaction Reports
– Corporate and government account movements
– Testimonies from individuals who handled transactions indirectly
However, none of these elements has yet established a direct link to Yahaya Bello.
In money‑laundering cases, the prosecution must prove:
1. The existence of illicit funds
2. The defendant’s knowledge of the illicit nature of the funds
3. The defendant’s participation in concealing or transferring the funds
So far, the testimonies suggest that the prosecution is struggling with points 2 and 3.
Conclusion: EFCC Faces an Uphill Battle as Trial Continues
The three court sessions reveal a prosecution case that is document-heavy but witness-light, with testimonies that repeatedly distance the former governor from the transactions.
While the EFCC may still call more witnesses or present additional evidence, the current trajectory suggests that establishing a direct, personal link between Yahaya Bello and the alleged financial misconduct remains a significant challenge.
The trial continues on the adjourned dates, with the court expected to hear more witnesses as the EFCC attempts to strengthen its case.
By PRNigeria
