Crime
Alleged money laundering: Yahaya Bello’s name not on property documents, EFCC witness tells court
Case adjourned to March 6, 7 for continuation of trial
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to March 6 and 7, 2025, for continuation of trial.
The court adjourned after the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, called his two witnesses, one on subpoena.
When Pinheiro, SAN, called the first witness, Segun Joseph Adeleke, the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, objected, saying that the witness’ name was not included in the initial list of witnesses provided by the prosecution.
This, he said, could affect his cross-examination.
The trial, however, proceeded and the witness, who identified himself as the General Manager of Efab Properties Limited, was asked to tell the court what he knows about a property on 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama and another one in Gwarinpa.
Adeleke told the court that the name of the former governor did not reflect on any of the two properties being examined on Monday and that he did not sight him throughout the transactions.
Giving an account of what transpired, he said sometime in 2020, his chairman, Chief Fabian Nwora, introduced him to a young man called Shehu Bello and that they had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property.
“We had a discussion concerning the purchase of the property in question. And he told me that the young man would be coming back to make payment for the property at an agreed price of N550 million,” he said.
When asked if he had seen Shehu Bello since that day, he said, “I saw him three times. The first time was for introduction, the second time for payment and the third time was when he brought a legal document for the execution of the EFAB property.”
The EFCC lawyer then mentioned another property at 5th Avenue in Gwarinpa and told the witness to tell the court what he knows about it.
Responding, the witness said the property was purchased by one Nuhu Mohammed for N70 million and was paid for through a bank transfer.
He was asked if he remembered which bank the money came from, but he said no.
On cross-examination, the defendant’s counsel, Daudu, SAN, asked if the witness’ actions were purely based on the instructions of his chairman. He responded, “Yes.”
The counsel further asked whether it was correct to say that he did not initiate any discussion with Shehu Bello on his own, to which he also answered, “Yes.”
On the documents signed for the transactions, the Defendant’s Counsel asked the witness if he could confirm that Shehu Bello signed his own part in his presence.
“He did not my Lord,” he answered.
Daudu, SAN, also asked: “Throughout this transaction, did you set eye on the defendant?”
“Not at anytime in the course of this transaction,” the witness responded.
He was also asked if the name of the defendant appeared anywhere on the documents he said were with the EFCC.
He, again, answered, “no!”
The Prosecution then told the court that they had another witness to call, on subpoena.
The Defendant’s Counsel objected that they were being taken by surprise but added that he had no intention of stalling the trial.
The second witness identified herself as Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).
She had the subpoena with her, which the lawyer sought to tender as evidence.
The Defendant’s counsel had no objection and it was marked “Exhibit 1”.
The witness read out the documents the subpoena asked for to include the statement of account of Kogi State Government House, from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2024.
The statements of account of Maselina Njoku, from January 1 to December 31, 2022, were also admitted in evidence, including the account opening packages of American International School and statements of accounts, from September 1 to September 30, 2020.
Justice Emeka Nwite then adjourned to March 6 and 7, 2025 for continuation of trial.
The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage of the man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop after the incident on September 10, 2025.
The bureau, in a statement accompanied by the video link shared on X on Friday, noted that the video shows the shooter climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the attack and then jumping off and fleeing the scene after firing the fatal shots.
Investigators also reportedly found the weapon and ammunition used in the shooting in a wooded area near the university.
The agency wrote, “The FBI has released a video and more photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley shooting. The subject is seen jumping from the rooftop of a building after the shooting.
“Around 12 pm Mountain Time on September 10, 2025, the subject climbed up to a rooftop; after he shot and killed Charlie Kirk, he jumped off and ran away. He left a gun and ammunition in a wooded area near the university.
“Trace evidence collected from the rooftop scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. Anyone with information in this case should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.”
The bureau added that it is working closely with law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Credit: X| FBISaltLakeCity
Crime
Ghana Court Jails Three Nigerians 96 years for Car Thefts
All three convicts : Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison.
Three Nigerians – Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, have been sentenced to a combined jail term of 96 years for their involvement in car theft within the Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana.
Ohibaba.com learned that a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police, Godwin Ahianyo, and obtained on Tuesday, said that the Atasemanso Circuit Court sitting in Ghana delivered the sentence.
This is coming amidst a recent protest by Ghanaians over the involvement of Nigerians in alleged criminal activities.
According to Ahianyo, the trio were arrested on June 20 following suspicions that they were involved in targeting and stealing parked vehicles.
The trio were subsequently arraigned before the circuit court on July 22, but only Ekenze pleaded guilty to the charges pressed against him.
Ahianyo stated, “On July 22, 2025, the suspects Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze were arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court.“
During proceedings, Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty to the charges and was immediately convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour. The other two suspects, Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie, pleaded not guilty.
“Subsequently, on July 23, 2025, the cases of Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie were heard at Circuit Court 3, where both were found guilty and each was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment on two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
”He added that the three suspects were further arraigned on additional charges in another court and were each sentenced to 20 years.
“On the same day, Circuit Court 1 also heard additional charges against all three suspects, resulting in 20-year IHL sentences each, also on two counts, and to run concurrently.“
Finally, on July 24, 2025, Russell Ekenze was further convicted at Circuit Court 2, receiving an additional 10-year IHL sentence on two counts, to run concurrently with his existing sentence.
“All three convicts, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison,” the statement read.
Three young women linked to a disturbing assault captured in a viral video have been remanded at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The suspects — identified as Kadi Blessing, Becky, and Miracle — appeared before a Magistrate Court on Tuesday, where they were formally arraigned on multiple serious charges.
The case, which has sparked widespread outrage on social media and across the country, involves allegations of a violent physical attack that was recorded and circulated online, drawing the attention of both the public and law enforcement authorities.
During the court proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) requested additional time to allow investigators to conduct further inquiries into the incident. Granting the request, the presiding magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody for an initial period of 21 days at the Okaka Correctional Centre.
The three women are currently facing a slew of charges, including assault, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, attempted murder, and other related offenses. Legal experts suggest that the gravity of the allegations could potentially lead to a transfer of the case to a higher court, depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates and child protection groups have called for a thorough and speedy investigation to ensure justice is served, not just for the victim but as a deterrent against similar acts of violence.
Bayelsa State Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to ensuring that all parties involved in the incident are held accountable in accordance with the law.
The court is expected to reconvene after the 21-day remand period to review the findings of the investigation and determine the next phase of legal proceedings.
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