Connect with us

latest

Yahaya Bello: Court To Rule On Deed Of Assignment, Power Of Attorney.

Published

on

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned to rule on the admissibility of a Deed of Assignment and an Irrevocable Power of Attorney presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing trial of former Yahaya Bello.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court fixed March 9, 2026, for a ruling after hearing detailed arguments from both prosecution and defence over documents linked to the sale of Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone, Gwarimpa 2, Abuja, allegedly sold for ₦100 million.

Bello faces a 19-count charge relating to alleged money laundering totaling ₦80,246,470,088.88.

The issue arose when prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli, sought to tender the documents through PW10, Mahmoud Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Limited. Abdulaziz testified that the company sold the 8,240.72-square-metre property to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million, paid in tranches: ₦70 million on February 17, 2021; ₦10 million on February 19; and ₦20 million on February 22, via electronic transfers into the company’s Keystone Bank account by Maigari Murtala.

He also stated that the Deed of Assignment was executed between Dantata & Sawoe and Azba Real Estate Limited, while the Irrevocable Power of Attorney was executed between Mubarak Dantata and Ali Bello.

Defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, objected to the documents’ admissibility on three grounds, arguing that they are registrable instruments relating to land title and should have been obtained as Certified True Copies from the relevant land registry. He insisted the EFCC is not the custodian of such land documents and cited Section 114 of the Evidence Act.

In response, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro argued that the objection misinterpreted the law. She stated that the witness’s oral evidence about the transaction and receipt of money is clear, and the documents are intended to support that evidence. She emphasized that the trial concerns financial crimes, not civil disputes over land ownership, and cited that once private documents are submitted to a public officer during investigation, they become public documents in custody (Audu v. FRN, 2025).

Earlier, the defence informed the court of a pending application to vacate an earlier order permitting Bello to travel for lesser Hajj. Both parties were still in discussions regarding the application, with the prosecution noting that “all the airports in the Middle East are closed.”

During cross-examination, PW8, an FCMB official, confirmed a ₦100 million inflow from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021, a ₦400 million RTGS inflow on December 17, 2021, and a ₦600 million inflow from Ejadams on February 18, 2022, but stated he did not know the purpose of these transfers.

PW9, a Polaris Bank compliance officer, testified that multiple ₦10 million inflows into JIT Limited’s account on November 23–24, 2021, totalled ₦150 million, while 10 credit entries into SSP Foods Limited’s account on November 24, 2021, amounted to ₦250 million. She stated she was neither the account officer nor relationship manager and was unaware of the transactions’ purposes.

The trial is set to continue on March 9, 2026, when the court will rule on the disputed documents’ admissibility and proceed with further hearings.

Advertisement

latest

Police Arrest NSCDC Officer With Pistol, 17 Bullets At Abuja Kubwa Market.

Published

on

An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested for allegedly firing gunshots into the air during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The officer, identified as Onoja Samuel, reportedly arrived at the market armed with a pistol following allegations that some traders had assaulted his wife.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while addressing journalists at the command on Wednesday, Naija News reports.

Sanusi said the police received a distress call from Kubwa Market, located in the Bwari Area Council, reporting that a man was shooting into the air.

Following the report, officers attached to the Kubwa Police Division were deployed to the scene, where they arrested the suspect.

According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that Samuel holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) in the NSCDC.

He explained that the officer allegedly fired several shots during an argument with the traders.

“During the ensuing argument with the traders, Onoja Samuel, who is a DSC with the NSCDC, fired several shots into the air,” Sanusi said.

The police recovered a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the suspect.

Sanusi added that Samuel remained in police custody and would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The commissioner also urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the FCT to exercise restraint and notify the police divisions responsible for their areas before conducting authorised operations.

He stressed that effective coordination among security agencies was essential to preventing confrontations and maintaining peace across the territory.

Continue Reading

latest

‘We Don’t Want Another Mohbad Case’ – Laolu Gbenjo Speaks On Toluwanisings.

Published

on

Nigerian gospel singer Laolu Gbenjo has cautioned the public against spreading unverified information about the circumstances surrounding the death of his colleague, Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Gbenjo’s warning comes amid growing controversy surrounding the late singer’s death and burial arrangements, with reports of disagreements among members of his family.

The gospel singer spoke on Tuesday during a night of tributes held in honour of Toluwanisings in Ibadan, Oyo State. He warned against allowing the situation to degenerate into a controversy similar to the one that followed the death of Nigerian singer Mohbad.

Describing the deceased as a devoted Christian and a genuine servant of God, Gbenjo said Toluwanisings was passionate about his faith and had a good relationship with people.

He urged the public to stop fuelling unnecessary controversy over the late singer’s death, particularly through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

“You can never see Toluwani in the midst of jobless people. He had a good heart. He was a friend to everybody. He served the Lord with all his heart. Don’t turn Toluwani into Mohbad. That madness on TikTok and Instagram must stop. If you are jobless, go and look for a job,” Gbenjo said.

Meanwhile, comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action against individuals allegedly linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.

Woli Agba disclosed this in a public notice shared on his Instagram page on Sunday.

In the notice issued by their solicitors, Gemgold, the comedians warned members of the public against publishing or circulating allegations they described as false and defamatory against them.

The legal notice maintained that the allegations were baseless and intended to damage the reputations of the two entertainers.

Continue Reading

latest

El-Rufai’s ₦1bn Legal Battle Takes New Turn As Court Fixes Judgment Date.

Published

on

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date after lawyers representing the parties adopted their respective court processes.

However, El-Rufai’s lawyer was absent when the case was initially called. The judge subsequently deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.

Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), adopted the commission’s court processes and urged the judge to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

Similarly, the lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, and Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), adopted their respective processes and asked the court to dismiss the case.

During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived in court and apologised for his lateness.

When Akpan sought the court’s permission to adopt his client’s processes, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the documents had already been deemed adopted.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until December 2, 2026, when judgment is expected to be delivered.

Continue Reading

Trending