Yahaya Bello Trial: Court Dismisses CTCs Without Receipts in ₦80.2bn Fraud Case

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, proceeded to hear Yahaya Bello’s trial for the alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly prosecuting Bello on 19 counts related to money laundering totaling ₦80,246,470,088.88.

Following the cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness, Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the proceedings.

When the hearing was restarted, the prosecution’s attorney, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), told the court that Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7) will be cross-examined and that three witnesses were available.

PW7, Olomotane Egoro, an Access Bank Plc compliance officer, affirmed that he was still under oath while mounting the witness box.

While being cross-examined by the defense attorney, J.B. The witness, Daudu (SAN), affirmed that he testified in response to a subpoena and submitted Exhibits 32, 33(1–11), and 34.

He further informed the court that he had previously testified before a different Federal High Court on the identical papers, but he was unable to remember which defendants were involved or if he had testified as a PW2.

Afterwards, the defense attempted to submit Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the other court’s records.

Pinheiro brought up a procedural point, claiming that the defense had neglected to provide receipts proving payment for the CTCs, even though the prosecution did not contest the documents’ admissibility.

Additionally, he insisted that the witness had provided consistent testimony.

According to Justice Nwite, the objection was upheld, and the documents could only be allowed if payment receipts were presented.

The court was told by the defense that the receipts were still being sought.

Transactions involving Abba Adaudu, Fazab Oil, and Keyless Nature Limited became the subject of additional cross-examination.

The witness verified transfers of ₦200,000 and ₦8 million in Abba Adaudu’s favor, as well as a countercheck payment at the Otukpo branch of Access Bank.

The following payments were made for specified purposes, according to PW7’s testimony regarding local government inflows:

Okehi Local Government for the provision of medical supplies, ₦7,500,144.61;

on June 3, 2022, ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government for the provision of athletic supplies;

On June 6, 2022, Yagba East Local Government awarded ₦12,228,400.10 for the purchase of medical supplies.

He went on to say that the entries in Exhibit 33(11) showed typical banking activities.

The Fazab Oil account opening package was not immediately available, but it could be obtained if needed, the witness added.

The matter was postponed by Justice Nwite to Thursday, February 5, 2026, so that PW7’s cross-examination could continue.