Court Admits Key Judgment in EFCC Trial of Yahaya Bello
Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday admitted into evidence a judgment of the court in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu over an alleged 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, concluded the examination-in-chief of prosecution witness 14 (PW14), Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor with the American International School Abuja.
During his testimony, Okehone confirmed awareness of a suit filed by Ali Bello against the school and the judgment delivered in the matter. The prosecution subsequently tendered a Certified True Copy of the judgment in Suit No. FCT/ST/CB/6574/2023, along with a payment receipt.
Defence counsel raised no objection, and the court admitted the documents as Exhibits AY and AY2.
The witness told the court that Ali Bello was the claimant in the suit and the father of a prospective student, Zayyan Ali Bello, but clarified that he was not the father of four other children referenced in the documents.
“From our records, Yahaya Adoza Bello is the father of the four children,” the witness stated.
Reading from the admitted judgment, Okehone disclosed that arrangements were made for the payment of the children’s school fees up to graduation through an upfront payment plan. He added that a total of $569,864.12 was paid into the school’s account domiciled in TD Bank, with receipts issued for the transactions.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that the school is located in the Durumi area of Abuja and that he had served as its internal auditor for about eight to nine years. He also clarified that his role did not involve interaction with students and that he did not represent the school in the suit.
Following cross-examination and with no re-examination, the witness was discharged.
The prosecution thereafter urged the court to suspend hearing on a pending application challenging its jurisdiction, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) that discourage interruption of criminal trials by interlocutory applications.
Pinheiro argued that objections raised after a plea should be incorporated into final addresses and determined at judgment stage, insisting that criminal proceedings must not be stalled.
However, the defence opposed the application, relying on legal authorities, including the case of Shema vs FRN (2019), to argue that the prosecution’s position was flawed.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to May 8, 2026, for ruling and continuation of trial.
Court Admits Key Judgment in EFCC Trial of Yahaya Bello