The ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on alleged money laundering charges has been adjourned to May 6 and 7, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the adjournment on Friday.
The witness, Abdullahi Jamilu, had earlier been given his initial statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to refresh his memory. He stated that he made the statement to the EFCC on May 10, 2022, and that it was the only statement he provided regarding the matter. During cross-examination by Bello's counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Jamilu admitted that issues concerning Wales Oil and Gas, Forza, and Aleshua Companies were not included in his statement to the EFCC, marked as Exhibit 46. He also confirmed that the names he read out in Exhibit 13, pages 1 to 13, were not present in Exhibit 46. Furthermore, he acknowledged that he was not the maker of Exhibit 13.
Justice Nwite dismissed an objection from the defense counsel to the EFCC's attempt to re-present Exhibit 46, describing the objection as speculative and misconstrued. The witness recalled giving similar evidence before Justice Egwuatu at the Federal High Court. When reminded by the defense counsel that he was the third prosecution witness in that case, Jamilu said he could not recall the exact witness number but confirmed that the defendants were Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadi Sadat.
The defense counsel then moved to tender documents, which were admitted as Exhibit 47 without objection. Upon reviewing the exhibit, the witness admitted that the transactions he discussed in Justice Egwuatu's court were the same as those in the current case. He explained that he sought assistance from colleagues to facilitate dollar transfer payments because his own accounts could not handle such transactions directly. He also stated that the names of the companies—Wales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas, and Aleshua Services—were not in Exhibit 46 because he was not asked about them and did not recall at the time.
During examination-in-chief by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness testified that he gave dollars to a police officer named Ali on behalf of Abba Adaudu. He noted that the companies mentioned earlier—Aleshua Services, Wales Oil and Gas, and Forza Oil and Gas—were owned by his colleagues at the market. He added that when he lacked sufficient dollar inflow for transfers, he contacted his colleagues and agreed on a rate. According to him, Adaudu instructed the payment to American International School, accompanied by a friend whose name he could not remember.
The witness confirmed that all transfers to AISA were successfully executed, and he forwarded the telex advice, or transfer receipts, to Adaudu. He was asked to verify that the documents in Exhibit 13 (pages P1 to P14) were the telex advice and receipts for the school payment. He responded, “Yes, but I just noticed that P13 and P14 are not part of the documents I tendered as part of the payment I made for the school fees.” When questioned, he named the students on whose behalf the payments were made.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the case to May 6 and 7, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness.
