The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has insisted on the presentation of payment receipts before admitting Certified True Copies, CTCs, of documents in the ongoing ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
This was disclosed on Wednesday via the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, EFCC, X handle.
Bello is being prosecuted by the agency on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering involving the alleged sum of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the matter was “slated for the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven,” adding that the prosecution had “three witnesses available” to testify.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, entered the witness box and affirmed that he “remained under oath.”
During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, Egoro confirmed that he testified “pursuant to a subpoena” and that he had tendered Exhibits 32, 33, 1–11, and 34.
He also told the court that he had earlier testified before another Federal High Court in relation to the same exhibits, but said he “could not recall the specific defendants” in that matter or whether he testified as PW2.
When the defence sought to tender CTCs of documents obtained from the other court, Pinheiro stated that the prosecution had “no objection to the documents” but raised a procedural concern.
He pointed out the “absence of receipts evidencing payment for the CTCs” and maintained that the witness had been “consistent in his testimony.”
Ruling on the issue, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution and held that the documents “could only be admitted upon the presentation of the required receipts.”
Following the ruling, the defence informed the court that “efforts were ongoing 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 made 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 payments were made 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 further stated that entries contained in Exhibit 33, 11 were “consistent with normal banking transactions,” adding that the account opening package of Fazab Oil was “not immediately available but could be retrieved.”
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.
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