The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), adding that the prosecution had three witnesses available to testify.
PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, was thereafter called to the witness box and affirmed that he remained under oath.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that he testified in the matter pursuant to a subpoena and had tendered Exhibits 32, 33(1–11), and 34. He also disclosed that he had earlier testified before another Federal High Court in relation to the same exhibits but could not recall the specific defendants involved or whether he appeared as PW2 in that case.
As the defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents obtained from the other court, the prosecution raised no objection to their admissibility but drew the court’s attention to a procedural lapse. Pinheiro noted that the defence failed to present receipts evidencing payment for the CTCs, insisting that such receipts were a requirement for admissibility. He further maintained that the witness had been consistent in his testimony.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution and held that the documents could only be admitted upon the presentation of the relevant receipts. Consequently, the defence informed the court that efforts were underway to retrieve the required receipts.
Further cross-examination focused on bank transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu. The witness confirmed a counter cheque payment made at the Otukpo Branch of Access Bank, as well as transfers of ₦200,000 and ₦8 million in favour of Abba Adaudu.
On local government inflows, PW7 testified that certain payments were made for specific purposes. These included ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply of medical items; ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022, for the supply of sporting materials; and ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.
He also told the court that entries contained in Exhibit 33(11) were consistent with normal banking transactions. On the account opening documents of Fazab Oil, the witness stated that while the package was not immediately available, it could be retrieved.
Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.
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