A witness in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-governor was not directly involved in the property transactions currently under investigation.
Proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard testimony suggesting that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was not directly connected to the property transactions being examined in his alleged money laundering case.
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The statement came from the 10th prosecution witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, a staff member of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, during the hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite.
While being cross-examined by defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), the witness told the court that Bello did not take part in the transaction involving the property documents submitted as evidence.
Earlier during the proceedings, the court admitted two disputed documents presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as Exhibits 42 and 43.
Abdulazeez identified Exhibit 42 as an Irrevocable Power of Attorney executed between Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited and Azab Real Estate Limited.
He also confirmed that Exhibit 43 was a Deed of Assignment signed between the same companies.
However, during cross-examination, the witness admitted that the Deed of Assignment did not indicate the value of the property involved in the transaction.
Defence counsel Daudu questioned the witness about the unusual omission.
“In all your 25 years, have you been in receipt of documents which do not contain the value of the property that is being sold?” Daudu asked.
“No, my lord,” Abdulazeez replied.
The witness further stated that Yahaya Bello was neither involved in the preparation nor the execution of the documents presented in court.
He also said he never saw the former governor at the company’s office during the transaction process.
According to him, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited authorised Azab Real Estate Limited to execute the documents on its behalf.
“Dantata and Sawoe gave consent and assigned Azab to execute the deed. Our directors signed on behalf of Dantata while Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azab,” the witness told the court.
The trial continues as the court examines evidence presented by the EFCC regarding the alleged financial transactions linked to the former governor.