The trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and his co-defendant Dauda Sulaiman, over alleged money laundering involving N10 billion, has been adjourned to July 15, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges against Ali Bello and Sulaiman, with allegations of their involvement in diverting funds from Kogi State's treasury.
According to the EFCC, other suspects, including Abdulsalami Hudu, the cashier of Kogi State House Administration, and former Governor Yahaya Bello, who is declared wanted, are still at large.
During Thursday’s proceedings, EFCC witness and Access Bank staff member Olom Egoro was cross-examined by Abubakar Aliyu (SAN), counsel for Ali Bello.
Egoro informed the court that there were no transactions directly linked to Bello in the bank records presented as evidence.
He clarified that the compliance unit of the bank did not manage the servers generating transaction information, attributing this responsibility to the bank’s ICT department.
Subsequently, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), representing co-defendant Dauda Sulaiman, also cross-examined the witness.
Following
the completion of the cross-examinations, Justice Omotosho discharged Egoro
from the witness box and scheduled the continuation of the trial for July 15
and 16.
In earlier proceedings on May 6, the EFCC presented Egoro as their sixth prosecution witness.
Egoro detailed how the EFCC had requested Kogi State Government House’s bank statements from Access Bank for 2018 to 2021, along with other related documents.
He presented evidence of transactions involving withdrawals of N10 million each, although specifics regarding depositors and purposes of withdrawals were not disclosed during his testimony.
The
trial has drawn significant attention due to the magnitude of funds involved
and the high-profile nature of the accused, including their close ties to the
governance of Kogi State.
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