Court adjourns Ali Bello, co-defendant’s case until June 19

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned an amended money-laundering charge instituted against Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until June 19.

Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter for trial continuation after the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led Olom Otane Egoro, a witness, in evidence.

At the resumed hearing, Oyedepo presented Egoro, a staff of Access Bank from the Compliance Unit, as the 6th prosecution witness (PW6) of the Commission.

The banker told the court that the EFCC, via a letter, requested for the bank statement of the Kogi State Government House, for the period of 2018 to 2021.

He said the commission also asked for other documents, including the account opening mandate for the account and certificate of compliance in respect of the printouts.

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

Though both counsel to the 1st defendant (Ali Bello), Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, and that of the 2nd defendant, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents, they elected to raise the points of objection at the final address stage.

The witness thereafter went through the statement of account, detailing the various deposits into and withdrawals from same via transfers and cash.

From his evidence, Egoro said the withdrawals were not more than N10 million 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 before concluding his testimony for the day.

Although the matter was initially fixed for May 7 for trial continuation, Aliyu prayed the court for an adjournment on health grounds.

Tye senior lawyer equally prayed the court to vacate tomorrow’s date.

Oyedepo and Jolaawo did not oppose Aliyu’s application.

Justice Omotosho, by agreement of counsel, adjourned the matter until June 19 and June 20 for continuation of trial.

It would be recalled that Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022, are standing trial on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering brought against them by the anti-graft agency.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.