Witness tells court Yahaya Bello not linked to property transactions in EFCC trial
A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of former Yahaya Bello has told the court that the former governor’s name does not appear in the transactions linked to a property deal being examined in the case.
The witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, an employee of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, made the disclosure on Monday while testifying as the 10th prosecution witness in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
During his examination-in-chief, Abdulazeez identified Exhibit 42 as an irrevocable power of attorney between Dantata and Sawoe and Azab Real Estate Limited, and Exhibit 43 as a deed of assignment between the two companies.
The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, admitted both documents in evidence after delivering a brief ruling on their admissibility.
Under cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, Abdulazeez said the deed of assignment marked as Exhibit 43 did not state the value of the property involved in the transaction.
The witness, who said he had worked as an accountant for more than 25 years, told the court that in his experience it was unusual for property sale documents not to indicate the value of the property.
He also told the court that Bello was not involved in the transaction process and that he never saw the former governor at the company’s office during the completion of the deal.
Earlier, Justice Nwite ruled that the documents tendered by the prosecution were admissible despite objections from the defence.
Daudu had challenged the admissibility of the irrevocable power of attorney and the deed of assignment, arguing that they were public documents that must comply with sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act 2011.
The judge agreed that the documents fell within the category of public documents under section 102 but held that the prosecution had established that they were being tendered in a criminal proceeding to show that a transaction took place, rather than to prove legal title to the property.
The prosecution subsequently called an 11th witness, James Igbakule, a lawyer who testified about a property located at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja.
Igbakule told the court that payment for the property was made in three instalments and said he had been contacted by one Shehu Bello after his client, SFC Foods Limited, decided to sell the property.
He said that after the transaction was completed he was invited by an official of the anti-graft agency who informed him that his name had surfaced during an investigation.
During cross-examination, the witness said he was seeing Bello for the first time and had never conducted any business with him.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, also presented a 12th witness, Jemilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator, who confirmed that he knew some of the companies mentioned during the trial.
Abdullahi said most of his transactions were with Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited, and confirmed handling several transactions in multiples of ₦10m carried out by one Abba Adaudu.
After a short recess, Bello’s counsel urged the court to remove a red alert issued before the defendant’s appearance in court.
Daudu argued that granting permission for the defendant to travel abroad without vacating the red notice would amount to giving relief with one hand while taking it away with the other.
Justice Nwite said he would review the arguments before delivering a ruling on the application.
The court adjourned the trial to April 22, 23 and 24, and May 6 and 7 for continuation of proceedings.