₦80.2bn Fraud: Court Demands Receipts Before Admitting Documents
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, focused on the cross-examination of the prosecution’s seventh witness.
Bello is facing 19 charges of money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting him.
The prosecution said three witnesses were ready for the trial. PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, testified under oath.
During cross-examination, the witness confirmed he appeared following a subpoena. He presented several exhibits and said he had also testified about them in another court. However, he could not remember the specific defendants in that case.
The defence tried to submit Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from the other court. The prosecution did not oppose but said the receipts proving payment for the CTCs were missing.
Justice Nwite ruled that the CTCs could only be admitted if the receipts were shown. The defence said they were trying to get the receipts.
The cross-examination also covered bank transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu. PW7 confirmed cheque and transfer payments, including ₦200,000 and ₦8 million to Abba Adaudu.
On local government funds, the witness said payments were made for specific purposes. These included ₦7.5 million from Okehi Local Government for medical items, ₦10.8 million from Omala for sports materials, and ₦12.2 million from Yagba East for medical consumables.
He added that the transactions in one of the exhibits matched normal banking activities. He also said that the account opening documents for Fazab Oil were not immediately available but could be retrieved.
The court adjourned the trial to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of PW7’s cross-examination.