An EFAB Property Limited manager told an FCT court that Yahaya Bello and two others made no payment for the Maitama house.
He said only Shehu Bello showed interest and later backed out due to EFCC investigation.
A prosecution witness from EFAB Property Limited has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and two other defendants never made any payments to his company for the Maitama property being investigated.
The witness, Mr. Segun Adeleke, who serves as General Manager at EFAB Property Limited, stated this on Wednesday during the resumed hearing of the fraud case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case involves Bello, Umar Shuaib Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Adeleke testified as the second prosecution witness and said clearly that he had no personal or official dealings with any of the three defendants. He also confirmed that EFAB Property Limited had no records of financial transactions with them.
While responding to questions from Mr. J. B. Daudu (SAN), who represented Bello in court, Adeleke was asked whether the names of the defendants appeared in any of the company’s transaction documents. He replied, “This is the first time I am seeing His Excellency (Yahaya Bello) in person, although I have seen him before in print and electronic media but not in any transaction.”
Earlier in the trial, the first prosecution witness, Mr. Fabian Nwora, who is the Chief Executive Officer of EFAB Property Limited, also stated that none of the three defendants made any payment to the company. He said that although he knows Yahaya Bello, the former governor’s name did not appear in any of the transactions linked to the property.
Nwora explained that the initial negotiation for the Maitama property, located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, was with one Shehu Bello. He said the deal was later handled by Adeleke, his company’s General Manager.
Nwora further recalled that on February 8, 2023, he was invited to the EFCC in relation to the transaction involving Shehu Bello and the property in Maitama. According to him, it was Shehu Bello who approached EFAB Property Limited to express interest in buying the house.
Adeleke, during examination by EFCC counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), confirmed that in 2020, his chairman gave him the details of the property after Shehu Bello had shown interest in it. He said the purchase was completed, and a total of N500 million was paid for the property.
However, he added that not long after the payment, Shehu Bello returned with the signed agreement and informed the company that he no longer wished to continue with the purchase. He explained that the decision was influenced by an ongoing EFCC investigation.
“My chairman said he would revert after consulting with our company secretary,” Adeleke stated.
In another part of the hearing, the prosecution lawyer asked Adeleke about documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed concerning a property located in Gwarinpa, Abuja. Adeleke confirmed that Muhammed received those documents after buying one of the detached bungalows in that area.
But at that point, the defence counsel, Mr. Daudu, objected to the introduction of the documents, claiming that the necessary groundwork had not been established by the witness. The court, however, overruled the objection.
During cross-examination, Adeleke admitted that he had earlier testified on a similar issue before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court. He said he came into the transaction after it had already started and was not involved from the beginning.
Daudu reminded the witness that during his previous testimony, he had stated that the payment for the Gwarinpa property was made in a single installment. But in the current hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih, he claimed the money came in two parts. Adeleke responded that the payment was indeed made in two tranches and said he had receipts to prove it. However, he also admitted that he did not personally know Nuhu Muhammed.
Another witness, Mrs. Williams Abimbola, appeared in court with a subpoena and presented the account statement of the Kogi State Government House. She also provided a certificate of identification to support the document.
The defence team said they would respond to the document during the next stage of the trial.
Justice Maryann Anenih has adjourned the matter to October 8 and 9, as well as November 12 and 13, 2025, for further hearings.
