N80.2Bn fraud trial: Court demands receipts before admitting key documents

Stories by Olakunle Oke

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja has demanded receipts before admitting documents in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involving the alleged diversion of ₦80,246,470,088.88.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that proceedings were slated for the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), adding that three prosecution witnesses were available.

PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, mounted the witness box and affirmed that he remained under oath.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that he appeared in court pursuant to a subpoena and had tendered several exhibits. He also disclosed that he had earlier testified before another Federal High Court on the same documents but could not recall the specific defendants involved.

While the defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from the previous proceedings, the prosecution raised a procedural objection, noting the absence of receipts confirming payment for the CTCs. Justice Nwite upheld the objection, ruling that the documents could only be admitted upon presentation of the required receipts. The defence subsequently informed the court that efforts were underway to retrieve them.

Further cross-examination focused on transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu. The witness confirmed a counter cheque payment at Access Bank’s Otukpo Branch, alongside transfers of ₦200,000 and ₦8 million in favour of Adaudu.

Egoro also testified on local government inflows, stating that funds were paid for specific purposes, including ₦7.5 million from Okehi Local Government for medical supplies, ₦10.8 million from Omala Local Government for sporting materials on June 3, 2022, and ₦12.2 million from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.

He added that entries in one of the exhibits reflected routine banking transactions, noting that the account opening documents of Fazab Oil were not immediately available but could be retrieved.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.