Court Adjourns Ali Bello, Co-Defendant’s Case To June

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned an amended money laundering charge instituted against Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to June 19.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter for continuation of trial, after the Prosecution Witness, Olom Egoro, staff from the compliance unit of a commercial bank, completed his evidence.

The banker, who is the sixth prosecution witness for the EFCC, told the court that the EFCC, via a letter requested the bank statement of the Kogi State Government House, for the period 2018 to 2021 and other documents, including the account opening mandate for the account and certificate of compliance in respect of the printouts.

These documents were tendered through the witness and admitted in evidence accordingly.

Though both counsel to the defendants objected to the admissibility of the documents, they elected to raise the points of objection at the final address stage.

From his evidence, the withdrawals were not more than N10m at any point. The witness also did not state who deposited the monies, what the monies were deposited for, or who withdrew the same and for what purpose.

Counsel to the 1st defendant consequently prayed the court for an adjournment on health grounds to enable him to cross-examine the witness later.

Justice James Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case to the 19th and 20th of June 2024 for continuation of trial.

Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman are standing trial on a 10-count charge, bordering on money laundering brought against them by the EFCC.

They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.