3 weeks ago
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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA– A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting astatine Maitama, connected Thursday, adjourned further proceeding connected the 16-count wealth laundering complaint the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against the erstwhile Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, till November 12.
The adjournment came aft the anti-graft bureau called its sixth witnesser to attest earlier proceedings Justice Maryann Anenih.
In her Evidence-in-Chief, a Compliance Officer with Polaris Bank, Ms. Victoria Oluwafemi, told the tribunal that arsenic astatine November, 2021, the full recognition successful the Kogi State Government House Account, was N450million.
According to the witness, records of inflows into the relationship showed that monies were paid successful by antithetic persons and subsequently withdrawn successful multiples of N10m.
While being cross-examined by ex-governor Bello’s lawyer, Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, the witnesser admitted that she was not the relationship serviceman for 2 accounts the authorities operated with her bank.
She added that since she was neither the relationship serviceman nor the narration manager, she could not explicate however transactions connected the accounts were carried out.
The witnesser arsenic told the tribunal that the sanction of Bello’s co-defendant, Abdulsalam Hudu, did not bespeak successful the slope document.
Meanwhile, the defendants challenged EFCC’s determination to tender immoderate documents done the sixth witness, Msheila Arhyel B, who was subpoenaed to look earlier the court.
Daudu, SAN, told the tribunal that helium has not concluded the cross-examination of the aforesaid witnesser astatine the Federal High Court wherever ex-governor Bello is facing a akin charge.
His contention was nevertheless dismissed by Justice Anenih, who held that the proceeding earlier her could not beryllium tied to a proceedings that is pending successful different court.
In his objection, Bello’s counsel insisted that documents the prosecution sought to tender against his client, failed to conscionable the threshold of admissibility arsenic provided successful sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.
On his part, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the tribunal to discountenance the objection and admit the documents successful evidence.
The document, which was a 218-page connection of relationship belonging to a firm- Alusha Services- which was signed by the PW-6, was admitted successful grounds and marked arsenic Exhibit P1.
In his testimony, the witnesser arsenic told the tribunal that monies were severally withdrawn from the relationship successful tranches of N10m.
He told the tribunal that anterior to 2023, determination was nary strict withdrawal bounds arsenic agelong arsenic the magnitude written connected the cheque did not transcend N10m.
Asked to analyse transactions that took spot connected the relationship betwixt February 22 and 25, arsenic good arsenic connected March 3, 2016, and May 6, 2022, the witnesser confirmed aggregate transactions of N10m each.
He told the tribunal that the full transactions, which amounted to astir N707, 267, 000. 00, arsenic astatine January 32, 2018, were wrong the support threshold of the bank.
The witnesser further confirmed that the sum of $2,500 was connected May 6, 2022, paid into the relationship of Aleshua Solutions Services by 1 B. O. Rosemary Chukwuma.
“The 2nd is simply a transportation successful favour of Yau for $5,000. The 3rd is besides a currency transportation of $5,000 to Yau,” helium added.
The witnesser besides confirmed definite transactions successful December 2016 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, totalling N202m.
Justice Anenih adjourned the substance for continuation of cross-examination of the sixth witness.
Bello, who piloted the affairs of Kogi authorities from 2016 to 2024, is facing proceedings alongside 2 officials of the Kogi authorities government- Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The defendants were accused of complicity successful a N110billion fraud.
The complaint against them, marked: CR/7781, borders connected conspiracy, transgression breach of spot and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
EFCC alleged that the erstwhile politician misused authorities funds to get properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly ...
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