Alleged N80.2b fraud: Witness denies business dealings with ex-gov Yahaya Bello
A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of an ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello told a Federal High Court on Wednesday that there has been no business
A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of an ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello told a Federal High Court on Wednesday that there has been no business dealing between him and Bello.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds estimated at ₦80.2 billion.
The witness, Baba Bappa who described himself as an estate surveyor and facility manager, said he only knew the defendant as a public figure.
Bappa, who was being cross-examined by defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) as the 13th prosecution witness (PW13)
The witness said he had not met Ali Bello before until he came to make the enquiry about a property which he was in charge of.
The PW13 recalled giving similar evidence before another court, but could not remember what court it was.
While being led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinhero (SAN) told the court what he knew about a property on Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja also known as Citi Scape Sharriff Plaza.
Bappa said: “Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent is a plaza and number 13 is a shop in the plaza.”
On whether he knew Ali Bello, the witness said he (Ali Bello) was one of those who came to make enquiries in the plaza and that he indicated interest in one of the shops.
He said after he (Ali Bello) made payment a shop was allocated to him, adding that: "He paid an initial deposit of N40 million. Later he paid the balance of N26 million naira, including agency fees. A receipt was issued to him and Shop B13 was allocated to him."
While being cross examined earlier, PW-12, Jamilu Abdullahi told the court that he could not remember the evidence he gave in a similar matter before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court.
Daudu took the witness through page 72 of Exhibit 37, where the registered nature of the his firm's business was given as “sales and supply of office equipment and stationery.”
He was also told to show the court, in Exhibits 33(6) and 37, where it was said, in the account opening package, that the money he would be bringing into the bank would be from Bureau de Change (BDC) business.
The witness responded that he could not be sure of the genuineness of the document.
Abdullahi said he could only confirm from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), adding that the handwritten part of the account opening document looked different from his handwriting.
In the alternative, the witness said he could confirm the genuineness of the handwritten part of the document through the statement he made to the EFCC.
When asked to show the court from the two documents where he informed his bank that he is a BDC operator, Abdullahi said he was not sure whether or not he informed the bank.
When asked whether he was a licensed BDC operator or not, he said, “I am a licensed BDC operator. I am a director and you can confirm that through the CBN.”
He, however, said that he could not recall when his licence was issued or whether the licence was part of the documents he submitted to the bank.
Abdullahi also said his BDC licence was not part of the documents before the court.
The PW-12 confirmed that, from his extra-judicial statement before the EFCC, there was nowhere he told the commission that he was a licensed BDC operator.
He said that could have escaped his mind when he was writing the statement.
Abdullahi denied the claim that he must have left that part out of the statement because he did not want the EFCC to charge him for running an unlicensed BDC.
Daudu claimed that the witness could not deal with inflows or make transfer to other entities in foreign currency because he was not licensed to operate as a BDC company, which allegedly made him to involve his friends.
In response, the witness said he contracted it out because of the volume of transactions.
Abdullahi added: "For other smaller transactions that we did that were not beyond my capacity and Nigerian transaction limit, we handled them through the Nigerian bank accounts,” he stated.
He also confirmed that the three accounts – his personal account, E-Trader, and KumfayaKum – which were before the court, were naira-denominated accounts.
Another witness, Shehu Bello, was called as PW14 by the prosecution.
He said he was a real estate agent and commodity trader.
He recalled that the EFCC had, sometime in 2023, invited him with regard to Ali Bello, whom he described as his friend.
He said he had done business with Ali Bello in the past too in commodity and property business.
On the property on Plot 1773, Guzape District, Abuja, the witness said he bought it for himself and sold it to Ali Bello.
The witness also said one Farouk Bello told him to get two properties that he could buy at the time, in Wuse Zone 4 and Maitama.
He said the owner of the property that was bought by Farouk Bello was Chief Nwora of Efab Properties.
Further proceedings resume on May 7 before Justice Emeka Nwite.
