The judge adjourned to July 3 and 4 for continuation of trial and July 21 for ruling on the application to travel.

The fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has refuted, strongly, claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer that he was harassed by security aides of the former governor.

Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, said, at the conclusion of cross-examination on Friday, that he felt the need to make the clarification on the allegation, raised by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, at the beginning of the day’s proceedings.

“My Lord, I wish to clarify the matter raised earlier before the commencement of proceedings. I was not harassed by any of the security details attached to the defendant.

“I was not harassed at all, and I felt the need to clarify this, my lord,” he stated.

The Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, also called the attention of the Judge to a story on the EFCC’s website, alleging that the Commission’s witness was harassed.

He also said the EFCC misrepresented the facts of the previous day’s court proceedings.

Responding, Pinheiro, SAN said he would call the attention of the EFCC office to the matter.

The witness, during cross-examination by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the Defendant’s Counsel, also comfirmed that the former governor was neither a signatory to nor connected with any of the accounts presented as evidence.

He admitted that, going through Exhibit 22A, from pages 24 to 413, Yahaya Bello was not also listed on any of the documents as a beneficiary of any transaction.

“I am here to speak on the documents before me. From the document, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello’s name did not feature in any description or as beneficiary in any transaction in the documents before me,” he confirmed.

The compliance officer had earlier mentioned the signatories on the accounts managed for the Kogi State Government House Administration and also comfirmed letters that introduced those who replaced some key officials along the line.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected, saying that the Defendant’s counsel should restrict his question to the document and not ask the witness who benefitted.

“The witness is not an expert of law,” he argued.

“But the witness, as an expert, knows what to say,” Justice Nwite responded.

The witness had earlier explained that he supervises a cluster of 13 branches within Abuja and other places like Gwagwalada, University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello way, Baze University, Garki, and Garki Ultra Modern Market, among others.

He also admitted that his clusters did not extend beyond the Federal Capital Territory.

The witness was earlier told to identify the signatories to the accounts and their designations, considering the documents tendered as evidence.

He mentioned the names, ranging from the Permanent Secretary to the Chief Accountant, and accountant.

On the issue of harassment, the EFCC’s lawyer had raised an observation that the witness was harassed by one of the security details attached to the defendant.

The Defendant’s counsel doubted the claim, noting that he had always known his client to be a man of peace.

He, however, assured the court that he would investigate the allegation and report back accordingly.

The judge thereafter urged the defendant’s counsel to thoroughly investigate the matter.

However, at the close of cross-examination, the prosecution witness sought the court’s permission to address the allegation made earlier.

The defendant’s counsel commended the witness for his honesty and integrity in coming forward to clarify the situation.

He then informed the court about the application for the retrieval of the Defendant’s travel documents.

But the prosecution said they had filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that the application was technically incompetent.

Pinherio said the same application was filed at the FCT High Court, adding that it was an abuse of court process.

Daudu, SAN, said the prosecution was the one guilty of abuse of court process.

“We were served with the counter affidavit yesterday and we, overnight, filed a further affidavit to the complainant’s counter affidavit with two exhibits as well.

“My lord, the substance of the application is for the release of his international passport in line with the conditions for the bail that if he needs, he has to apply to court.

“He has medical needs to attend to during the period of the vacation. After eight years of not traveling, he needs to attend to certain aspects of his health,” Daudu, SAN said.

The judge adjourned to July 3 and 4 for continuation of trial and July 21 for ruling on the application to travel.

Justice Nwite had, on Thursday, rejected a move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, Chief Executive Officer of Efab Property Limited, had, at a previous hearing, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American school.

The Kogi State Government has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project following a comprehensive 3-day inspection tour across various intervention sites in the state.

The inspection, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Oluwasegun Joseph, who also chairs the State Steering Committee (SSC), covered project locations in Okene, Ankpa, and Kabba/Bunu Local Government Areas. The team included members of both the State Steering and Technical Committees.

Among the inspected sites were key interventions such as gully erosion control locations, water harvesting systems, Community Resilience Facilities (CRF), and agro-forestry zones.

The inspection team applauded the quality of work on ground, citing strict compliance with set standards and commendable pace of implementation.

Engr. Oluwasegun Joseph noted that the Governor Ododo ‘s administration remains committed to improving livelihoods and building climate resilience among communities in Kogi State.

The State Government is dedicated to improving the lives of our people, and this project is a testament to that commitment,” he stated.

Also, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Co-Chairman of the SSC, Engr. Farouk Danladi, expressed delight over the achievements recorded within a relatively short time, particularly in Kabba, Ankpa, and Okene.

He noted that the project’s progress has exceeded expectations, describing it as a model for integrated development.

Project Coordinator of Kogi ACReSAL, Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jatto, thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering support, which she described as a driving force behind the project’s success so far.

She also appreciated the World Bank and national ACReSAL teams for their technical guidance and encouragement.

“The core objectives of ACReSAL are land restoration, livelihood enhancement, and boosting food security,” Jatto explained.

“These goals are being met progressively in Kogi State, thanks to strong institutional support.”

The inspection exercise highlights the State Government’s focus on rigorous monitoring and evaluation of projects, ensuring transparency, impact, and value delivery.

Project Coordinator of Kogi ACReSAL, Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jatto, thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering support, which she described as a driving force behind the project’s success so far.

ACReSAL’s efforts are expected to significantly bolster Kogi’s climate adaptation capacity, improve agricultural productivity, and entrench sustainable land management practices.

As implementation continues, stakeholders express optimism that the project will catalyze long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits for communities across the state.

The Kogi State Government has commenced the training of 2,310 young people across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion technology.

This ccomes in a major push to fulfill its campaign promise of youth empowerment and economic diversification.

The initiative, carried out in partnership with Sufpay Ltd, is designed to equip Kogi youths with cutting-edge skills that align with Nigeria’s national embrace of cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

Speaking in Lokoja, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the programme as a bold and strategic move to position the state for the emerging energy revolution.

“This is about creating a new generation of skilled professionals who can compete and contribute meaningfully in the evolving energy sector. CNG is the future, and we are proud to be preparing our youths for it,” Fanwo said.

He emphasized that the initiative will not only strengthen the local economy but also serve as a non-kinetic strategy in addressing insecurity by productively engaging the youth population.

“Our Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, made a clear commitment to youth empowerment, and this programme is a clear demonstration of that commitment.

We are building development around our youth because they are the greatest asset of our state,” he added.

Fanwo also extended appreciation to Sufpay Ltd, noting that the company’s dedication and technical expertise have been instrumental in driving the vision forward.

The training initiative aligns with broader national efforts to transition to alternative fuel sources and reduce dependence on petrol, while simultaneously tackling unemployment through technical empowerment.

The training is also decentralized so that the youth can learn in their familiar environments. The training centers are Lokoja, Okene, Idah and Kabba.