Yahaya Bello’s Name Not On N550m Abuja Property Document- EFCC

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, was on Monday told that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello did not participate in all the transactions that led to purchase of a N550m land in Maitama, Abuja by one Shehu Bello.

The court was also informed that Bello’s name was never featured in all documents relating to transactions, including the title deed.

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olusegun Joseph Adeleke gave the evidence while testifying in the money laundering charges preferred against the former governor

Adeleke who is the General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited was led in evidence by EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, after he narrated to Justice Emeka Nwite how the Chairman of EFAB properties Limited, Fabian Nwora invited him to transactions by Shehu Bello on the purchase of the property located at No 1, Ikogosi street in Maitama Abuja.

Giving an account of what transpired, he said sometime in 2020, his chairman, Chief Fabian Nwora, introduced him to a young man called Shehu Bello and that they had a discussion concerning the purchase of the said property.

“We had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property in question. And he told me that the young man would be coming back to make payment for the property at an agreed price of N550 million,”.

When asked if he had seen Shehu Bello since that day, he said, “I saw him three times.The first time was for introduction, the second time for payment and the third time was when he brought a legal document for the execution of the EFAB property.”

The EFCC lawyer then mentioned another property at 5th Avenue in Gwarinpa and told the witness to tell the court what he knows about it and in response the witness said the property was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed at the rate of N70 million and paid for through a bank transfer.

He was asked if he remembered which bank the money came from, but he said “No” to which the EFCC witness explained that upon conclusion of transactions, Shehu Bello made payment for the property and a receipt and letter of allocation delivered to him.

He, however, said that Shehu Bello later came back for refund of his money upon discovery that the house was under EFCC investigation.

Under cross examination by Joseph Daudu, the lead counsel to Yahaya Bello, the witness admitted having transactions with Shehu Bello three times adding that throughout the transactions, he did not sight Yahaya Bello while his name did not also feature in any of the documents on the transactions including the title deed.

The witness said that he didn’t see Shehu Bello, who purchased the property in court, and asked if the witness’ actions were purely based on the instructions of his chairman, to which he responded, “Yes.”

The defence counsel further asked whether it was correct to say that he did not initiate any discussion with Shehu Bello on his own, to which he also answered, “Yes.”

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to March 6 and 7 for continuation of trial.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji