A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 15 for ruling in the ongoing trial of former Yahaya Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Emeka Nwite scheduled the ruling date on Thursday after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence regarding the admissibility of a statement made by one of the prosecution witnesses.
The dispute emerged during proceedings when prosecution counsel, Kayode Enitan, sought to tender a statement made by the 14th prosecution witness, Shehu Bello. However, the move was strongly opposed by defence counsel, Adebayo Adedeji, who challenged the propriety of admitting the document into evidence. Justice Nwite subsequently directed both parties to address the court on the legal issues surrounding the admissibility of the statement before adjourning for ruling.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former governor on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds said to amount to N80.2 billion. The anti-graft agency alleges that the funds were unlawfully diverted during Bello’s tenure as governor of Kogi State. Bello has, however, denied the allegations levelled against him. During Thursday’s proceedings, the 14th prosecution witness, Shehu Bello, was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel.
While testifying before the court, the witness spoke about a property located at Plot 1891, Dalla Hills, Maitama, Abuja, which reportedly formed part of issues being examined in the trial. Details of the witness’s testimony drew the attention of both legal teams as the prosecution attempted to formally tender his statement as part of the documentary evidence before the court. The defence objected to the move, insisting that the document did not satisfy the legal requirements for admissibility.
Although the exact legal grounds of the objection were extensively argued in court, the defence maintained that the statement should not be admitted into evidence. In response, the prosecution urged the court to overrule the objection and allow the statement to be tendered, arguing that it remained relevant to the charges before the court. Following submissions from both sides, Justice Nwite announced that ruling on the objection would be delivered on June 15.
The case against the former governor has continued to attract national attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and the political profile of the defendant. Observers say the ruling on the disputed statement may significantly affect the direction of subsequent proceedings, particularly as the prosecution continues to present witnesses and documentary evidence in support of its case. Legal analysts noted that disputes over admissibility of evidence are common in high-profile criminal trials, especially in complex financial crime cases involving large volumes of documents and witness statements.
The ongoing trial is one of several major corruption-related prosecutions being pursued by the EFCC against former public office holders. The anti-corruption agency has repeatedly stated its commitment to prosecuting financial crimes and ensuring accountability in the management of public resources. Supporters of the former governor, however, have maintained that Bello remains innocent until proven guilty by the court. The proceedings at the Federal High Court were closely followed by lawyers, political observers and members of the public interested in the outcome of the high-profile case.
Security was also visibly tightened around the court premises as the hearing continued. With the ruling now fixed for June 15, attention is expected to focus on how the court resolves the evidential dispute and the possible implications for the continuation of the trial. The matter was subsequently adjourned pending the court’s decision on the admissibility of the witness statement.
