N80.2bn fraud: Court admits American school’s account as exhibit against Yahaya Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, February 24, 2025, presented its first round of witnesses in the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Also presented was the statement of account and account opening package for American International School in Abuja, account number, covering September 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020.

These were admitted as exhibits by the court.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion.

The charges, according to the EFCC, are in violation of Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

The EFCC’s first witness, Segun Joseph Adeleke, who is the General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited, testified under examination by the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

During questioning, Adeleke confirmed that a property located at House 12, 59 Crescent, Fifth Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million.

He explained that the payment was made via bank transfer and that his company issued relevant documents, including proof of payment and allocation letters.

He said further inquiries revealed that EFAB Properties received N550 million for another transaction.

Adeleke stated that the company followed its standard procedure in processing the transaction, including documents signed by its chairman.

When asked whether he could identify the origin of the N70 million transfer, Adeleke admitted he did not know its source.

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Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN), Adeleke confirmed that he acted on instructions from his chairman and had no personal involvement in initiating the transactions.

On the separate property in Ikogosi, the witness said the land had one Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and was partitioned into two sections labeled 1A and 3B.

He stated that his company did not use house numbers or street names but rather plot numbers for documentation purposes.

Adeleke also testified that Shehu Bello purchased one of the properties but could not recall the dollar equivalent of the N550 million transaction.

He said legal documents were signed by the company’s Chairman and given to Bello for his signature, but the signed copies were not returned to EFAB Properties.

When asked whether Bello’s name appeared in any title documents or if he ever saw him during the transactions, Adeleke answered in the negative.

Following Adeleke’s testimony, the EFCC called its second witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with a commercial bank in Abuja.

Abimbola confirmed receiving a subpoena from the EFCC and presented a copy in court.

Following the admission of the exhibits, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the trial to March 6 and 7, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.

The Star