Subpoena dispute relays ₦110bn Kogi fraud trial

Proceedings in the ₦110.4 billion fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello were stalled on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, over a disagreement on the examination of a subpoenaed prosecution witness.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

At the resumed session before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal High Court, FCT, Abuja, lead prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, announced the presence of Prosecution Witness Ten (PW10), Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank. The prosecution sought to tender the application for issuance of the subpoena, which was admitted as Exhibit AE without objection from the defence.

However, when the prosecution attempted to examine the witness, defence lawyers P.B. Daudu, SAN, and Z.E. Abbas objected. They argued that the prosecution could not examine the witness based solely on the subpoena application and insisted that the actual subpoena be produced and tendered in court.

Pinheiro countered that the subpoena formed part of the court record, issued under a court order, and that there is no legal requirement to tender the subpoena before the witness could testify. He described the defence objection as “untenable” and an attempt to delay proceedings.

The defence maintained that their constitutional right required full access to the subpoena, emphasizing that the trial was public and that the basis for the witness’s appearance should be examined.

After considering the arguments, Justice Anineh ruled that the subpoena could always be produced before the court and adjourned the trial to February 11–12 and March 11–12, 2026, for continuation.

The trial continues to attract attention due to the magnitude of the alleged financial misconduct and the involvement of high-profile defendants.