Bello

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has affirmed the voluntariness of extra-judicial statements made by Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman in an ongoing alleged ₦10bn fraud trial.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Wednesday, following a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were obtained voluntarily.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the lesser hajj (Umrah) and observe the final 10 days of Ramadan, despite his ongoing trial.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application on Thursday after Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), moved a motion seeking the temporary release of his client’s international passport.

Daudu informed the court that the application, dated 19 January, was filed on 20 January. He said the motion sought an order allowing Bello to travel to Mecca for the lesser hajj during Ramadan, which runs from 18 February to 19 March, and to observe the concluding days of the fasting period in the holy city.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), did not oppose the application.

m Effiong

The trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Monday, November 10, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with further testimonies from witnesses called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Bello is being prosecuted for the alleged diversion and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government during his tenure as governor.

Monday’s proceedings featured the continuation of the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank. Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals — each amounting to ₦10 million — were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke.