The 17th prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case filed against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others, said on Wednesday that the former governor was not involved in any of the property transactions before the court.
The witness, Shehu Bello Bala, told the court, while being cross-examined by the Defendant’s Counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, that the 2nd defendant.Umar Shuaib Oricha, also
did not participate in any of the transactions.
He noted that one Dr Farouk Bello served as the agent during the purchase transactions
On cross-examination, he, however, noted that he was aware that the title documents – Deed of Assignment and Power of Attorney – were returned to Efab Estate by Farouk Bello.
The witness had earlier said he was not in anyway related to Ali Bello and Farouk Bello, whom he had mentioned in his examination-in-chief.
He also confirmed that he was not from Kogi State, implying that he was not also related to the former governor.
The witness, a commodity trader, who said he was from Katsina State, noted that he met Ali Bello about 14 years ago.
“So you have known him long enough to know the kind of businesses he is into,” the Defendant’s Counsel said.
“I knew Ali Bello in the course of my business which is commodity trading. We have done quite a number of businesses like buying grains from the North .
“We buy ginger and other products from the North and sell it. This was
