The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to March 11 and 12, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud.
The case, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anineh, involves Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who are facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
At Tuesday’s sitting, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for the continuation of the cross-examination of the 10th prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc.
Egoro had earlier testified during a previous hearing, explaining how large sums of money were allegedly moved through multiple bank accounts connected to companies under investigation.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, asked that the statement of account belonging to Fazab Business Enterprise Limited be shown to the witness.
Daudu directed the witness to the 14th column of the account statement, specifically an entry dated June 24, 2022. He asked the witness to confirm an outflow recorded as payment for the supply of educational materials.
Responding, Egoro confirmed the transaction, stating that the payment was made “for the supply of educational materials in the sum of ₦20 million.”
The defence counsel also questioned the witness about several withdrawals reflected in the account statement and whether he could recall them. Egoro acknowledged the transactions but said he could not determine the purpose of the withdrawals.
The witness further confirmed a transfer of ₦86 million from Fazab Business Enterprise Limited to Ejadams Essence Limited but said he was unable to explain the reason behind the payment.
When asked if he could state why the funds were transferred, Egoro responded that he could not.
He was also questioned about any possible business relationship between Fazab Business Enterprise Limited and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise. The witness told the court that he was not aware of any such relationship.
However, Egoro noted during his testimony that most of the cash withdrawals recorded in the account were structured to remain below ₦10 million.
When asked whether a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) had been filed regarding the transactions and whether such a report had been presented before the court, the witness replied: “No, my lord.”
Following the proceedings, Justice Anineh adjourned the matter until March 11 and 12, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.