Yahaya Bello not involved in Abuja properties purchase – EFCC witness
Kogi State Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello Exonerated by 17th Witness in Money Laundering Case
In a significant development in the alleged money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, the 17th prosecution witness stated Wednesday that the former governor had no involvement in the property transactions at the center of the case.
Shehu Bello Bala, while being cross-examined by defense counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, confirmed that Umar Shuaib Oricha, the second defendant, also did not participate in the transactions. Instead, Dr. Farouk Bello served as the agent during these dealings.
During the proceedings, Bala acknowledged that he was aware title documents, including the Deed of Assignment and Power of Attorney, had been returned to Efab Estate by Farouk Bello. Although he had previously mentioned Farouk and another individual, Ali Bello, he emphasized that he was not related to either of them and is not from Kogi State.
Bala, a commodity trader from Katsina State, stated that he first met Ali Bello approximately 14 years ago through business dealings involving the purchase of agricultural products from the northern region of Nigeria. “I knew Ali Bello in the course of my business, which is commodity trading,” he said. “We have engaged in various transactions including buying grains from the North.”
When asked if he knew the third defendant, Bala replied negatively, asserting that he had not taken part in any transactions involving that individual.
He further explained that at the time the title documents were returned to Efab Estate, Farouk Bello, who had been a friend of Bala’s father, had already passed away. “Someone came to me with documents concerning the property that they wanted to sell, but I cannot confirm if he was Farouk Bello’s son,” he added.
Bala later returned the documents to the chairman of Efab Estate and noted that it was then they discovered the property was being investigated. He identified a second property not marked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as one purchased by Farouk.
Defense counsel asked whether Ali Bello had inherited the property from his mother. The prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, interrupted, arguing that this line of questioning was irrelevant to the matter of inheritance. However, the defense maintained that it had the right to establish a foundation for its case.
The proceedings are ongoing as the court continues to hear testimonies related to the case.
