The trial of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello continued on Monday with the 11th Prosecution Witness (PW11), James Igbakymeh, narrating before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how a man identified as Shehu Bello purchased a property, located in Wuse II, Abuja at the cost of ₦650 million.
TheHintsNews reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello on a 19-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
Igbakymeh, a lawyer, told the court that sometime in October 2021, his client instructed him to sell a property, located on Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja.
According to him, He placed a banner on the property to attract prospective buyers, after which a man identified as Shehu Bello contacted him.
“He inquired about my office and came to meet me to negotiate for the purchase of the property,” he said.
Bello disclosed that after negotiations, both parties agreed on a price of ₦650 million.
The witness explained that the payment was made into three designated accounts provided by his client.
“My lord, the monies were paid into three designated accounts — SFC Foods Limited in Polaris Bank, JIT Agric Limited in Polaris Bank, and SFC Foods Limited in Heritage Bank,” he said.
He further told the court that the payments were made through different bureau de change operators before the property documents were eventually handed over to the buyer.
The witness also informed the court that EFCC investigators later invited him during the course of their investigation.
“Sometime after the completion of the transaction, I received a call from one Mohammed from the EFCC office in Lagos informing me that they were investigating a matter in which I had featured prominently and asking me to meet them at their Wuse II office in Abuja,” he said.
According to him, He honoured the invitation, wrote a statement, and submitted transaction documents to the Commission.
When shown the Offer Letter and Deed of Assignment relating to the transaction, the witness confirmed that he could identify them.
“The letter was written by me and the Deed of Assignment was the one we signed. I can see the signature of my client and mine,” he told the court.