Court Fixes May 30 To Continue Trial Of Kogi Governor’s Nephew, First Lady, Others Over N3billion Fraud
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed May 30 and 31 for continuation of the trial of Governor Yahaya Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello.
Herald Reporters had in February reported that the court granted Ali Bello and three others bail in the sum of N500 million each in the alleged N3 billion fraud trial.
Bello, who is the nephew of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is being prosecuted by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on 18 counts bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.
The other defendants in the case are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and the Kogi First Lady, Rashida Bello.
The EFCC is prosecuting them in suit No ABJ/CR/573/2022.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, called their first witness Mr Nicholas Oyemomoni from the American International School, Abuja.
Oyemomoni however, could not complete his testimony because the defence team, led by Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, objected to documents, which the EFCC sought to tender in evidence through him.
EFCC in a statement issued by its Head and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren said that defence prayed the court to allow him raise the objection in his final written address while admitting the documents provisionally.
The prosecuting counsel objected to this on the grounds that the documents could not be provisionally admitted.
Following the submissions of the parties the trial judge, Justice adjourned the matter until May 30 and 31 for the continuation of the trial.
Herald Reporters had reported that EFCC arraigned Governor Bello’s nephew before Justice Obiora Egwuatu alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadai Sadat on February 8, 2023, and that they pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
