The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed March 9, 2026, to rule on the admissibility of documents sought to be tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned for ruling after hearing arguments from counsel to the EFCC and the defence over whether the property-related documents could be admitted in evidence.
Bello is standing trial before Justice Nwite on a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2bn.
The disputed documents are a title deed and an irrevocable power of attorney in respect of a property in Gwarinpa District, Abuja, allegedly sold by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to Azba Real Estate Limited for N100m.
According to the prosecution, the documents were endorsed by Mubarak Dantata on behalf of the construction firm and Ali Bello for Azba Real Estate Limited.
The controversy arose when EFCC counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), sought to tender the documents through the 10th prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, an official of Dantata and Sawoe.
Abdulazeez, who told the court he had been with Dantata and Sawoe since 2016 and currently serves as Chief Accountant and Head of Accounts, confirmed that a Deed of Assignment was executed between the construction company and Azba Real Estate Limited in respect of a property located at Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarinpa II District, Abuja.
The move was vehemently opposed by lead defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Daudu argued that the documents were inadmissible as they were not certified by the appropriate authority.
He contended that the EFCC lacked the power to certify such instruments, insisting that only the Abuja Geographical Information Service could validly register and certify land documents.
He further submitted that the documents, being registrable instruments affecting title to land, ought to have been registered to confer probative value.
He also argued that there was no clause reflecting the N100m consideration allegedly paid for the property.
Although the documents bore EFCC certification, the defence maintained that such endorsement was insufficient in law.
Following the objection, EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), took over and urged the court to admit the documents.
He argued that the instruments were being tendered not to establish title to land but to support oral evidence already led regarding the transaction and receipt of funds.
After listening to both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned until March 9 for ruling and continuation of the trial.
Earlier, the eighth prosecution witness, Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with FCMB, told the court under cross-examination that he could not link Bello to any of the transactions reflected in the bank documents tendered as Exhibit 37.
Responding to questions from the defence, Ochoche admitted that Bello’s name did not appear in the account opening package and statement of account of Kumfayakum Global Limited covering January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024.
“In all the inflows and outflows drawn to your attention, did the name Yahaya Bello appear anywhere in Exhibit 37?” Daudu asked.
“It did not appear in any of the transactions drawn to my attention,” the witness replied.
He further admitted that apart from the transactions referenced in court, Bello’s name did not feature anywhere in the exhibit.
Ochoche also told the court that he could not ascertain the purpose of an inflow of N100m from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021, from the face of the documents.
He stated that only the account holders would know the reason for the payments and confirmed that he was not the account manager of the company’s account.
When asked whether he knew the business relationship between Keyless Nature Limited and Kumfayakum Global Limited, the witness responded negatively.
He gave a similar answer concerning a Real Time Gross Settlement inflow from Access Bank allegedly initiated by Keyless Nature Limited.
When asked to identify the defendant, Ochoche said he knew Bello as the former Governor of Kogi State.
The ninth prosecution witness, Oluwafemi Victoria, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, also testified on transactions conducted on accounts under investigation before the prosecution called Abdulazeez as its 10th witness.