Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Court Dismisses Defence Counsel’s Objection, Hears Further Testimony on Cash–Dollar Transactions

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Friday, April 24, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the court dismissing an objection by the defence counsel and allowing the prosecution to proceed with its case.

Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, Justice Nwite gave a ruling on an objection raised by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, at the previous sitting. The judge held that the objection lacked merit.

Daudu had objected that the prosecution team was attempting to contradict its own witness and suggested that the witness should have been declared hostile. The argument was turned down by lead Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who pointed out that the witness “was very unequivocal and unambiguous”

Ruling on Daudu’s objection, Justice Nwite stressed that “the objection is speculative and misconceived,” adding that the relevant provisions of Section 239 of the Evidence Act were applicable. He consequently overruled the objection and ordered the continuation of trial.

Following the ruling, the prosecution counsel, Pinheiro proceeded with the examination of the twelfth prosecution witness, PW12, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator.

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In his testimony, Abdullahi reiterated his dealings with Abba Adaudu, whom he described as the individual he transacted business with in respect of multiple foreign exchange conversions.

“I remember giving Ali, a police officer, a MOPOL, dollars at Fraser Suites on Abba Adaudu’s instruction. Whenever he was not available, he usually sent people to pick up his dollars,” the witness said.

The witness also gave further insight into transactions relating to school fees payments, explaining that he relied on colleagues in the Bureau de Change market when he lacked sufficient dollar inflow to execute transfers.

“Alyeshua Services, Forza Oil and Gas and Whales Oil and Gas Limited are companies belonging to my colleagues.

When I didn’t have the required inflow to process school fees payments, I contacted them, agreed on rates and paid them to handle the transactions,” he said.

According to him, the instruction for the school fees payments was given by Abba Adaudu.

“He came with a friend on a Saturday with cash in dollars and asked me to transfer the money for the payment of school fees for Zahra and Fatima Bello. The transfers were successful,” he said.

While shown documents earlier tendered by the prosecution, the witness identified several of them as records of transactions he facilitated, though he noted that a few were not directly handled by him.

Under cross-examination, Abdullahi confirmed that he made a statement to the EFCC on May 10, 2022, in relation to the matter.

“My statement was taken on May 10, 2022, and it is the only statement I made to the EFCC on this matter,” he said.

He also clarified his role in the transactions, stating that although he did not personally execute all transfers, he instructed and facilitated them.

“Yes, I instructed the transactions, though I did not carry them out myself,” he said.

On the issue of the source of funds used for school fees payments, the witness maintained that the money did not emanate from the accounts earlier referenced in court.

“The $300,000 used for the school fees was given to me in cash by Abba Adaudu and his associate. I did not use funds from those accounts for the payments,” he said.

Yahaya Bello

Abdullahi further explained the operational structure of the Bureau de Change market, noting that collaboration among operators was common when handling large transactions.

“In the Bureau de Change market, when one cannot handle a transaction due to insufficient inflow, colleagues are engaged. I gave both cash dollars and naira transfers based on agreed rates to facilitate the payments,” he said.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to May 6 and 7, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination of PW12 and further trial.

NPF Arrests Notorious Armed Robbery Syndicate, Recovers Stolen Vehicles In Kaduna

The Nigeria Police Force, through the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of three (3) notorious armed robbery suspects and the recovery of ten (10) stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.

The suspects; Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20), were apprehended on 16th March 2026 in Kaduna State.

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Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspect, Abubakar Musa, is a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army who has been impersonating a serving soldier to evade detection while carrying out armed robbery operations with his accomplices.

Further findings indicate that the syndicate specialized in the theft and movement of stolen vehicles, often removing or altering registration details to conceal their identity and ownership.

The operation led to the recovery of ten (10) vehicles of various brands, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda vehicle, a Lexus car, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV, with several of the vehicles found without registration numbers.

Police

Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional exhibits.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commends the operatives for their professionalism and reiterates the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating criminal activities and ensuring the safety of lives and property.

DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID psc(+) mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
24th April, 2026

Alleged N395.1m Railway Fraud: Witness Testifies How N268.5m Was Paid Into Ogbole-Inalegwu’s Account

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the trial of Director, Mechanical Services, Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, narrated before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, how a total sum of N268, 503, 653( Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, Five Hundred and Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Three Naira) was paid into the defendant’s account by different contractors handling projects for the NRC.

Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu is standing trial before the court sequel to his arraignment on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 on a nine-count charge for an alleged ₦395,190,600.00 fraud.

One of the counts against Ogbole-Inalegwu reads: “That you Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu while serving as the Railway District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation and transacting under the name of Altech Engineering Services, between 12th February, 2019 and 29th October, 2019 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an offence, to wit; corruption by receiving the cumulative sum of Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N11,397,500.00) from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a contractor of the Nigerian Railway Corporation through the bank account of Altech Engineering Services domiciled in Access Bank Plc with account number: 0018021498, on account of the contracts awarded to CCECC during the discharge of your official duties”.

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The witness, Head, Compliance Unit, Access Bank plc, while being led in evidence by lead prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, narrated how payments were made into the defendant’s account by China Civil Engineering Construction Company , CCECC; Abads Ventures Limited; Alhaji Danjuma Baba; Lovcom Associate; James Iria; Naophil Enterprises; Benches Nig. Limited; Michael Emma; MDCResources; Waliki Nig. Limited; Michael Sonayo; Goa Multilink; Sorchi Marble; KC Services Nig. Limited; Tunde Adewale Odunbanjo; Syero Associate; Luscord International; Tinola Global; Romint Nig. Limited and David Onokhoma. The payments added up to N268, 503, 653. The payments were made between February 12, 2019 and October 8, 2025.

Court

Defence counsel, Modechi Adejoh, while cross-examining the witness, posed questions about narration of transactions and the applicable rules in identifying senders and receivers of payments. The witness responded that banks apply different narrative styles about transactions.

Justice Dada, after discharging the witness and submissions of counsel, adjourned to June 4, 2026 for continuation of trial.