Crime
High Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Money Laundering Trial Until November 12
High Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Money Laundering Trial Until November 12
High court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s money laundering trial until November 12. Mr Bello is charged alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu with a 16-count charge bordering on alleged property fraud to the tune of N110 billion.
Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the alleged N110 billion fraud instituted against former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, and two others until November 12.
Mr Bello is charged alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu with a 16-count charge bordering on alleged property fraud to the tune of N110 billion.
At the resumed hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank.
The witness told the court that the total credit to the account in question came from different senders, adding that the transfers from the account were in multiples of ₦10 million.
She said the total credit in November 2021 was ₦450 million.
While being cross-examined by the counsel to the first defendant, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the witness admitted that she was not the accounts officer for the two accounts in the bank.
She also admitted that, because she was not the accounts officer, she did not know how the transactions on these accounts were carried out.
Counsel to the second defendant, A.M Aliyu, while cross-examining the witness, asked her if the name of Mr Hudu was in the portion shown to her in Exhibit M. She responded that it wasn’t.
The sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Mshelia Arhyel, was then called for cross-examination.
Mr Daudu told the court that he had not concluded the cross-examination of the same witness in another court on a similar subject matter.
The court, however, held that the matter before it was independent and that the defence counsel held the discretion to cross-examine or not.
During the proceedings, the prosecution sought to tender certain documents through the subpoenaed witness.
The court, however, held that the matter before it was independent and that the defence counsel held the discretion to cross-examine or not.
The prosecution sought to tender certain documents through the subpoenaed witness.
Counsel to the first defendant objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that they did not comply with the provisions of Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.
He further indicated his intention to address the court more extensively on the points of objection at a later stage.
Counsel to the second defendant, Mr Aliyu, also objected, relying on the same statutory grounds.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), urged the court to discountenance the objections raised by the defence team and admit the documents in evidence.
The court admitted the document, a 218-page statement of account of Alusha Services, signed by the witness, Mshelia Arhyel, and marked P1 en bloc.
The prosecution asked similar questions posed to the same witness at the June 26, 2025, examination before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
He reiterated that, prior to 2023, there was no strict withdrawal limit as long as the amount written on the cheque did not exceed ₦10 million.
The EFCC counsel told the witness to examine the transactions of February 22, 23, and 25 and March 3, 2016, up to May 6, 2022.
He confirmed multiple transactions of N10 million each, admitting they were within the approval threshold, which put the total transactions as of January 31, 2018, at N707,267,000.
Yahaya Bello
“Please confirm that, notwithstanding the multiple withdrawals made on the same day, they were all within the approved withdrawal threshold,” prosecution counsel said.
“Yes, my Lord,” the witness responded.
On the account statement of Aleshua Solutions Services and transactions from May 6, 2022, the witness said the first entry was a transfer in favour of Aleshua Solutions Services by B.O. Rosemary Chukwuma, in the sum of $2,500.
“The second is a transfer in favour of Yau for $5,000. The third is also a cash transfer of $5,000 to Yau,” he stated.
The witness also confirmed certain transactions in December 2016 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, totalling N202 million.
The judge then adjourned until November 12 for the continuation of the examination of the sixth witness.
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.
The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.
The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.
Jail
Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.
The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.
EFCC Boss Olukoyede Charges DNFBPs On SCUML Compliance In South-East
In its bid to frontally combat money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on operators of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs in the South-East to comply with mandatory registration under the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.
He made this call recently on a live Radio programme at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service where he explained the importance of the SCUML certificate for businesses operating within the non-financial sector.
The Executive Chairman, who was represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Promise Oluigbo, Head of SCUML Department in Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission noted that SCUML is responsible for the registration, regulation, monitoring and supervision of DNFBPs as provided for under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“DNFBPs are categories of businesses identified under Section 30 of the Money Laundering Act and include sectors such as automobile dealerships, real estate businesses, construction firms, hospitality services, supermarkets, legal practitioners, consultants, and non-profit organizations.’
“ As a regulatory body responsible for overseeing the activities of these businesses in order to curb money laundering and financing of terrorism, it’s important I say it here that the registration process is completely free. Business owners do not need to engage any third party. All they need to do is visit the SCUML portal and complete the registration process”, he said.
According to him, with the introduction of electronic certification which has improved efficiency and eliminated the risk of fake certificates, over 480,000 (Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand ) entities have been registered nationwide. He warned members of the public against engaging agents who charge fees for SCUML registration, stressing that the Commission does not authorize third-party registrations. “The EFCC frowns at any individual or group collecting money from businesses under the guise of facilitating SCUML registration. The process is seamless and free of charge”, he said.
Ola Olukoyede
While emphasizing on the need for businesses to register and collect the certificate, Olukoyede enjoined them to ensue adherence to statutory requirements such as Know Your Customer, KYC procedures, customer due diligence, record keeping and reporting of suspicious transactions, adding that failure to comply constitutes a violation of the law and may attract fines, imprisonment or other regulatory sanctions as stipulated under the Act.
“The objective of the SCUML framework is not to stifle businesses but to protect the financial system and ensure transparency in commercial activities.
It is designed to safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system”, he said.
Kaduna Court Jails Three For Fraud
Kaduna court jails three for fraud. Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and jailed the trio of Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide and Solomon Joseph Christian for fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The charge against Hassan reads: “That you, Aliyu Hassan (a.k.a Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni (a citizen of Brazil) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Kerry the sum of N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira, only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
Olamide’s charge reads: “That you, Samuel Olamide (a.k.a Johnny) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Johnny (a United States of America) citizen via TikTok platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Jackie Sanders (an American ) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
Christian’s charge reads: “That you, Solomon Joseph Christian.(a.k.a Jenort) sometime in February, 2026 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jenort via Facebook (a social media platform) and in that assumed character benefited the sum of $USD150 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
They all pleaded “guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each or to pay N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
Court
In addition to the sentence, Hassan forfeited N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira) and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 mobile phone with IMEI No SM-N9500, being the proceeds of his crime. Olamide forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone with IMEI No 35198153052814, being the tool of his crime and Christian forfeited iPhone 14 Pro with IMEI NO 35771267218661 and the sum of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars) being the proceeds of his crime. All the forfeitures were to the federal government.
The convicts were arrested in Agwa, Kudende area of Kaduna following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. They were charged to court and convicted.
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