Witness tells court how Yahaya Bello’s associate reclaimed N550m after EFCC probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called its first witness in the trial of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, who is facing a 16-count money laundering charge.

The witness, Fabian Nwaora, a real estate businessman, testified before the court in Abuja on Wednesday after Maryann Anenih, the presiding judge, overruled an objection from Bello and his co-defendants seeking to delay proceedings.

Nwaora, who owns EFAB Properties, told the court that his company sold a property in Maitama, Abuja, to a man named Shehu Bello for ₦550 million in 2020.

He said that in 2023, Shehu returned all the property documents, informing him that the EFCC was investigating the transaction.

According to Nwaora, he was later summoned by the EFCC and instructed to refund the money to an account provided by the anti-graft agency.

The defendants had opposed the trial’s commencement, arguing that the EFCC had not provided them with all the evidence it intended to use.

However, the judge ruled that they had not submitted a formal application to justify an adjournment.

The matter has been adjourned to April 3 for further hearing.

THE ALLEGATION 

Bello is accused of a criminal breach of trust  involving N110,446,470,089, an offence under the Penal Code.

He has been granted bail set at N500 million, with three sureties who must own properties in high-value areas of Abuja, including Asokoro, Wuse 2, and Guzape.

The sureties were also required to provide passport photographs and other forms of identification, such as a National Identification Number (NIN).