The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Friday, April 24, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the court dismissing an objection by the defence counsel and allowing the prosecution to proceed with its case. Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88. At the resumed hearing on Friday, Justice Nwite delivered a ruling on an objection raised by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, at the previous sitting. The judge held that the objection lacked merit. Daudu had argued that the prosecution was attempting to contradict its own witness and suggested that the witness ought to have been declared hostile. The argument was opposed by lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who maintained that the witness “was very unequivocal and unambiguous.” Ruling on the objection, Justice Nwite stated that “the objection is speculative and misconceived,” adding that the provisions of Section 239 of the Evidence Act were applicable. He consequently overruled the objection and ordered the continuation of the trial. Following the ruling, prosecution counsel Pinheiro proceeded with the examination of the twelfth prosecution witness (PW12), Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator. In his testimony, Abdullahi reiterated his dealings with Abba Adaudu, whom he described as the individual he transacted with in respect of multiple foreign exchange conversions. “I remember giving Ali, a police officer, a MOPOL, dollars at Fraser Suites on Abba Adaudu’s instruction. Whenever he was not available, he usually sent people to pick up his dollars,” the witness said. The witness also provided further insight into transactions relating to school fees payments, explaining that he relied on colleagues in the Bureau de Change market when he lacked sufficient dollar inflow to execute transfers. “Alyeshua Services, Forza Oil and Gas, and Whales Oil and Gas Limited are companies belonging to my colleagues. When I did not have the required inflow to process school fees payments, I contacted them, agreed on rates, and paid them to handle the transactions,” he said. According to him, the instruction for the school fees payments was given by Abba Adaudu. “He came with a friend on a Saturday with cash in dollars and asked me to transfer the money for the payment of school fees for Zahra and Fatima Bello. The transfers were successful,” he said. When shown documents earlier tendered by the prosecution, the witness identified several of them as records of transactions he facilitated, though he noted that a few were not directly handled by him. Under cross-examination, Abdullahi confirmed that he made a statement to the EFCC on May 10, 2022, in relation to the matter. “My statement was taken on May 10, 2022, and it is the only statement I made to the EFCC on this matter,” he said. He also clarified his role in the transactions, stating that although he did not personally execute all transfers, he instructed and facilitated them. “Yes, I instructed the transactions, though I did not carry them out myself,” he said. On the issue of the source of funds used for the school fees payments, the witness maintained that the money did not emanate from the accounts earlier referenced in court. “The $300,000 used for the school fees was given to me in cash by Abba Adaudu and his associate. I did not use funds from those accounts for the payments,” he said. Abdullahi further explained the operational structure of the Bureau de Change market, noting that collaboration among operators is common when handling large transactions. “In the Bureau de Change market, when one cannot handle a transaction due to insufficient inflow, colleagues are engaged. I gave both cash dollars and naira transfers based on agreed rates to facilitate the payments,” he said. Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to May 6 and 7, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of PW12 and further trial. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity April 24, 2026

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday, April 23, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how huge cash lodgments were converted to dollars and handed over to a key associate.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello over alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80,246,470,088.88.

Testifying, the witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and Prosecution Witness 12 (PW12), while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that several cash deposits were made on different dates into the account of E-Traders International Limited by one Abba Adaudu.

“Yes, my lord, there are more cash deposit transactions on different days into E-Traders International Limited,” the witness stated when asked to confirm whether such deposits extended beyond previously identified dates.

Referring to Exhibit 33(6), Abdullahi confirmed that there were cash inflows on March 10 and 11, 2022, but clarified discrepancies in the names of depositors appearing on the transaction records.

“My lord, I need to explain that the names indicated in the cash deposits—Abdullahi Jamilu, Jamil Abdullahi, and Jamilu Abdullahi—were used as narration. However, I was not the one who made the cash deposits at the Lokoja branch,” he said.

The witness further identified Abba Adaudu as the depositor in transactions dated October 8 and 11, 2021, maintaining that all dealings were conducted directly with him.

“Abba Adaudu, my lord. In all these transactions, I dealt with Abba Adaudu,” he said.

Abdullahi disclosed that upon receiving the cash lodgments, he converted the naira sums into United States dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.

“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over to Abba Adaudu,” he said.

While examining Exhibit 37, relating to Kunfayakun Global Limited—his company—the witness confirmed receiving ₦100 million and ₦400 million on December 15 and 17, 2021, respectively, from a firm identified as Keyless Nature Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu.

“The transfers were for dollar purchases. Upon receipt, we agreed on the rate, I converted the funds and handed the dollars over to Abba Adaudu,” he explained.

The witness further testified that on February 18, 2022, he received ₦600 million in six tranches into the account of Ejadams Essence Limited, also allegedly linked to Adaudu, for the purpose of purchasing dollars. Additionally, he confirmed receiving ₦325 million on February 21, 2022, via RTGS for the same purpose.

According to him, the physical handover of the dollars took place either at his office or that of Adaudu, located in Area 8, Abuja.

“What I can recall is that he always comes to my office to pick up the dollars, my lord,” he said.

Proceedings were, however, briefly stalled following an objection by defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, who argued that the prosecution was attempting to contradict the witness without first declaring him hostile.

“If the witness wants to contradict himself, he should be declared a hostile witness,” Daudu submitted.

In response, Pinheiro maintained that the witness had been consistent in his testimony, noting that his recollection of events spanning several years could not be construed as contradiction.

“The witness was very unequivocal and unambiguous… His statement reflects his recollection of transactions that occurred about five years ago,” he argued, citing relevant provisions of the Evidence Act.

After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until April 24, 2026, for a ruling on the objection and continuation of the trial.

Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
April 23, 2026

The Federal Government has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly unlawfully interfering with the communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

The former governor was docked on Thursday by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government on a five-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

El-Rufai, however, denied all the allegations levelled against him when the charges were read in court.

When the case was called, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea on the amended five-count charge filed on April 13, 2026. He prayed the court to substitute it for the earlier three-count charge.

Responding, counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, confirmed that he had been served with the amended charge and did not oppose the application.

Consequently, the trial judge struck out the earlier three-count charge filed against the former governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

After El-Rufai pleaded not guilty, the prosecution requested three consecutive trial dates for the commencement of trial. This request was strongly opposed by the defence.

Iyamu argued that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), access to him within the proposed three days might be difficult and not in the best interest of the defence.

He also informed the court of a bail application filed on February 17, 2026.

The prosecution further filed an application seeking an order to conceal the identities of two witnesses scheduled to testify in the matter. It requested that the witnesses’ identities be excluded from public court records and that pseudonyms be used during the trial, citing security concerns for their families.

The defence opposed the application through a written address and further affidavit, urging the court to dismiss it. Counsel argued that it is the constitutional right of an accused person to know their accusers and that there was no evidence showing that El-Rufai posed any threat.

He added that the defendant had dedicated his life to public service and warned that granting blanket anonymity could prejudice the case against him.

The defence also applied for an order directing the prosecution to furnish it with proof of evidence to prepare for trial, which the prosecution opposed via a counter-affidavit.

Additionally, the defence informed the court of an application to quash the charge. However, legal arguments were raised that such an application cannot be brought after a plea has been taken. The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the application for lacking merit.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, to hear the bail application and commence trial.