“This Is My First Time Seeing Him in Person” — Efab Property Manager Tells Court He Had No Dealings with Yahaya Bello
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has adjourned the ongoing money laundering trial involving the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others to October 8, 9, and November 12, 13, 2025.
Justice Maryanne Anenih postponed the hearing after the third prosecution witness, under cross-examination, submitted multiple documents as evidence in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Yahaya Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.
At Wednesday’s session, the second prosecution witness, Segun Adeleke, told the court he had no dealings with any of the three defendants concerning the controversial property deal. Adeleke, a manager at Efab Property Limited, said he did not recognize any of the defendants and had never met them prior to the trial.
“This is the first time I am seeing His Excellency (Yahaya Bello) in person,” Adeleke testified, clarifying that the former governor’s name appeared nowhere in the transaction documents.
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The first witness, Fabian Nwora, who is CEO of Efab Property, also earlier testified that none of the defendants paid any money to his company. He said negotiations for the Maitama property in question were initiated by a man named Shehu Bello, not Yahaya Bello.
Adeleke further told the court that in 2020, Nwora briefed him on the transaction with Shehu Bello, who eventually paid ₦500 million for the property. However, Bello later withdrew from the deal, citing the EFCC’s investigation.
The prosecution also questioned Adeleke about documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed for a property in Gwarinpa. Adeleke confirmed the sale but admitted he didn’t know the buyer personally.
The defence objected to the documents being tendered, claiming a lack of proper linkage, but the judge overruled the objection.
During cross-examination, Adeleke was reminded of a possible contradiction in his previous testimony before another court, where he had earlier claimed the funds for the Gwarinpa property were paid in full at once — whereas he now said it was done in two tranches.
A separate witness, Mrs. Williams Abimbola, appeared under subpoena and submitted the statement of account for the Kogi State Government House, along with a certificate of identification. The defence stated they would respond to the document at a later stage.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case for continuation of hearing in October and November 2025, as the trial enters a critical phase.
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