The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello to May 6 and 7, 2026. Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the proceedings and reserved the next sitting for the continuation of the cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Jamilu. Jamilu, during his testimony, confirmed that he made a statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 10, 2022, and stated it was the only one he gave in the matter. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, he admitted that references to Wales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas, and Aleshua Services were absent from Exhibit 46, and that he was not the maker of Exhibit 13. He also acknowledged that the names listed in Exhibit 13, pages 1 to 13, did not appear in Exhibit 46.
Jamilu recalled previously testifying in a related case before Justice Egwuatu, where the defendants were Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakuba Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadi Sadat. When reminded he was the third prosecution witness (PW3) in that case, he said he could not recall his exact witness number. Daudu tendered new documents, which were admitted as Exhibit 47 without objection. The witness affirmed that the transactions discussed in both cases were similar. He explained that he relied on colleagues to facilitate dollar transfers because his accounts could not handle such transactions directly. Jamilu stated that companies like Wales Oil and Gas, Forza, and Aleshua were owned by his colleagues. He confirmed that Abba Adaudu instructed him to make payments to the American International School (A.I.S.A), bringing along a friend whose name Jamilu could not recall. All transfers to A.I.S.A were completed, and telex advice was sent to Adaudu. However, Jamilu noted that documents P13 and P14 in Exhibit 13 were not part of the original payment receipts he submitted.
Yahaya Bello faces trial over alleged financial misconduct while a key witness struggles to recall basic details like his own witness number and which documents he submitted. The inconsistencies in Abdullahi Jamilu's testimony, including his inability to link critical exhibits to the case or remember central figures, raise questions about the strength of the evidence tied directly to the former governor. Nigerians named in the case, such as Abba Adaudu and the students linked to the school payments, may face prolonged legal uncertainty due to the shaky foundation of the prosecution's narrative. The delay until 2026 means accountability, if any, remains distant.
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