On June 17, the EFCC’s witness, Achille, acknowledged that Ali Bello’s name did not appear in any of the bank transactions presented in the ongoing money laundering trial.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday approved an application by Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the request after the motion was presented by Zakari Abbas, counsel for Bello. The application was not opposed by Abbas Muhammed, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Egwuatu also approved a separate application filed by Bello’s co-defendant, Yakubu Adabenege, seeking permission to embark on the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, scheduled between July 28 and August 27.

During the court session, EFCC counsel Muhammed noted that the day had originally been set for the continuation of cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness, Offure Achille, a staff member of Access Bank in Lokoja. However, he informed the court that Bello’s lead counsel, Abubakar Aliyu (SAN), was attending another matter before the Supreme Court and had requested that the case be stood down until later in the day.

Muhammed, however, explained that their witness would be unable to return in the afternoon and thus requested an adjournment.

Meanwhile, Abbas, who stood in for Aliyu, informed the court of a pending motion filed on May 12, seeking leave for Bello to travel to London for a medical check-up.

Similarly, Nureini Jimoh (SAN), counsel for the 2nd to 4th defendants, reminded the court of a separate application filed on May 23 on behalf of Adabenege, seeking permission to participate in the Hajj.

Both applications went unopposed by the EFCC, and Justice Egwuatu subsequently granted them.

The court ordered Bello to return his passport to the court registrar on or before September 12, while Adabenege must deposit his travel documents by August 30.

The trial was adjourned until October 13 and 14 for continuation.

In his motion, Bello requested two orders: one allowing him to travel to the London Centre for Advanced Cardiology between July 30 and September 10 for follow-up examinations and consultations, and another for the release of his passport, currently held by the court’s deputy chief registrar.

In a sworn affidavit, Bello stated that the court had previously granted him permission to travel abroad for medical reasons—most recently between August 1 and 31, 2023—and that he complied fully by returning to Nigeria on August 18 and promptly submitting his passport back to the court. He also highlighted that he had travelled three additional times with the court’s permission and returned as scheduled each time.

Meanwhile, during the June 17 proceedings, EFCC witness Offure Achille confirmed under cross-examination that Ali Bello’s name did not appear in any of the Access Bank transactions linked to the alleged financial misconduct.

The banker admitted she had testified that funds from Kogi State local government accounts had been transferred to three companies—Fazab Business Enterprise, Hyzman ARY Construction Ltd, and a third unnamed firm—but clarified that the bank received no complaints from the affected LGAs suggesting the payments were fraudulent or unauthorized.

She emphasized that her testimony was given as part of her official duties and that she had no personal stake in the case.

Bello is currently facing trial alongside four others—Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello—on 18 counts of alleged money laundering involving the diversion of approximately N3 billion from Kogi State and its local government accounts.

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