The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of Ali Bello, Chief-of-Staff to the Kogi State Governor, and his co-defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, on money laundering charges. The case, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been rescheduled to July 15 and 16 by Justice James Omotosho.
During Thursday's session, Abubakar Aliyu (SAN), representing Bello, cross-examined an EFCC witness, Olom Egoro, a staff member from Access Bank. Egoro admitted there was no evidence of any transactions directly linked to Bello in the exhibits presented.
Egoro clarified that the bank's compliance unit does not manage transaction data servers, a responsibility that falls to the bank's ICT department. The second defendant's counsel, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), also cross-examined Egoro before the witness was dismissed and the trial adjourned.
Previously, on May 6, the EFCC's counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), introduced Egoro as the sixth prosecution witness. Egoro testified that the EFCC had requested bank statements and other documents related to the Kogi State Government House accounts from 2018 to 2021.
Egoro reviewed the account activities, noting multiple N10 million withdrawals without specifying the individuals or purposes involved. These documents were admitted into evidence.
Bello and Sulaiman face a 10-count charge of money laundering, under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022. The trial will continue mid-July.
