A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed March 9, 2026, to rule on the admissibility of documents sought to be tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of Yahaya Bello.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned for ruling after entertaining arguments from counsel to the EFCC and the defence over whether certain property-related documents could be admitted in evidence.
Bello is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
The disputed documents include a title deed and an irrevocable power of attorney relating to a property in Gwarinpa District, Abuja, allegedly sold by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to Azba Real Estate Limited for N100 million.
The prosecution told the court that the documents were endorsed on behalf of the construction company and the purchasing firm, and sought to tender them through the 10th prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, an official of Dantata and Sawoe.
Abdulazeez, who identified himself as the chief accountant and head of accounts of the company, confirmed that a deed of assignment was executed in respect of the property located at Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarinpa II District, Abuja.
However, the move was opposed by Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), who argued that the documents were inadmissible on the grounds that they were not properly certified by the appropriate authority.
Daudu contended that only the Abuja Geographical Information Service has the statutory power to register and certify land instruments, adding that the documents, being registrable instruments affecting title to land, ought to have been duly registered to confer probative value.
He further submitted that there was no clause reflecting the alleged N100 million consideration for the property and maintained that certification by the EFCC was insufficient in law.
In response, EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), urged the court to admit the documents, arguing that they were not being tendered to establish title to land but to support oral evidence already given regarding the transaction and receipt of funds.
After hearing both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until March 9 for ruling and continuation of trial.
Earlier in the proceedings, the eighth prosecution witness, 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 an exhibit.
He admitted that Bello’s name did not appear in the account opening documents or statement of account of Kumfayakum Global Limited covering January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024, and confirmed that the former governor’s name did not feature in any of the transactions brought to his attention.
The witness also stated that he could not determine the purpose of an inflow of N100 million from Keyless Nature Limited based solely on the documents before him, noting that only the account holders could explain the payments.
The trial continues.
