The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to March 6 and 7, 2025. The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continued on Monday with testimonies from two prosecution witnesses.

The first witness, Segun Adeleke, General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, testified about properties in Maitama and Gwarinpa. Adeleke stated that Bello’s name did not appear on any documents and that he had never met the former governor.

“My Lord, in 2020, while I was in the office, my chairman sent for me. His name is Chief Dr Fabian Nwora. He introduced me to a young man named Shehu Bello. Apparently, they had discussed purchasing a property, and my chairman told me that Shehu wanted to make payment,” he said.

Adeleke explained that the property at Number 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama, was purchased for ₦550 million, paid in U.S. dollars after confirming the exchange rate. He also testified about another property in Gwarinpa, stating, “House Twelve, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarinpa, was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for seventy million. My Lord, it was a one-off payment via bank transfer to our account.”

When questioned, Adeleke confirmed he never met Yahaya Bello and that the former governor’s name did not appear on any documents submitted to the EFCC.

The second prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, testified under subpoena. EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, presented bank account statements, including those of the Kogi State Government House and other entities.

The court admitted all documents as evidence without objection and adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2025, for further hearing.