Yahaya Bello Trial: Judge Rejects CTCs Without Receipts

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with Justice Emeka Nwite insisting on strict compliance with procedural requirements before admitting Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering involving ₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the day’s proceedings were scheduled for the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), noting that three prosecution witnesses were available.
PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, appeared before the court and affirmed that he remained under oath. During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that he testified pursuant to a subpoena and tendered Exhibits 32, 33(1–11) and 34.
Egoro further disclosed that he had previously testified before another Federal High Court in relation to the same exhibits, although he could not recall the specific defendants involved or whether he testified as PW2 in that matter.
When the defence sought to tender CTCs of documents from the other court, the prosecution raised no objection to their admissibility but pointed out that the defence failed to present receipts evidencing payment for the CTCs, as required by law. Pinheiro also maintained that the witness had been consistent in his testimony.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the documents could only be admitted upon the presentation of the relevant receipts, aligning with the prosecution’s position. The defence subsequently informed the court that steps were being taken to retrieve the receipts.
Further cross-examination focused on banking transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil and Abba Adaudu. The witness confirmed a counter cheque payment at Access Bank’s Otukpo Branch, as well as transfers of ₦200,000 and ₦8 million made in favour of Abba Adaudu.
On local government inflows, Egoro testified that the funds were paid for specific purposes, including ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply of medical items; ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022, for the supply of sporting materials; and ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.
He added that entries in Exhibit 33(11) reflected normal banking transactions, noting that while the account opening package for Fazab Oil was not immediately available, it could be retrieved if required.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.