ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, took a new turn on Wednesday as a prosecution witness told the court that the former governor was not involved in any of the property transactions at the centre of the alleged money laundering case instituted against him and two others.
The 17th prosecution witness, Shehu Bala, made the disclosure while being cross-examined by Bello’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN).
Bala maintained that neither the former governor nor the second defendant participated in the transactions under scrutiny.
According to the witness, one Farouk Bello acted as the agent in the property dealings.
However, under further cross-examination, Bala acknowledged that he was aware that the title documents relating to the properties, including the deed of assignment and power of attorney, were later returned to Efab Estate by Farouk Bello.
The witness had earlier informed the court that he was not related to either Ali Bello or Farouk Bello, both of whom he mentioned during his testimony-in-chief.
He also stated that he was not from Kogi State, stressing that he had no familial connection to the former governor.
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Bala, a commodity trader from Katsina State, told the court that he had known Ali Bello for about 14 years through business dealings involving the purchase and sale of grains in northern Nigeria.
When counsel to the second and third defendants, A.M. Aliyu (SAN), asked whether he knew the third defendant, Bala replied in the negative and reiterated that the individual had no involvement in the transactions.
The witness further revealed that Farouk Bello, whom he described as a friend of his father, had already died by the time the title documents were returned to Efab Estate.
Responding to questions from the defence, Bala said individuals approached him with documents relating to the property and indicated their intention to sell it. However, he could not confirm whether the person was Farouk Bello’s son.
He added that he subsequently returned the documents to the chairman of Efab Estate.
The witness also testified that the second property, which was not marked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was the one purchased by Farouk Bello.
During proceedings, defence counsel sought to establish whether Ali Bello inherited the property from his mother. However, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), objected, arguing that the witness’s evidence had not touched on any issue of inheritance.
In response, the defence maintained that it was entitled to lay the foundation for its case and could question the witness on matters within his knowledge.
The case forms part of the ongoing prosecution of Yahaya Bello over allegations of money laundering and related financial crimes. Proceedings were adjourned for the continuation of hearing.