By Muhammad Mamman
The corruption trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, took a new turn on Wednesday as additional bank officials appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja to give evidence against him.
The witnesses, drawn from multiple commercial banks, provided detailed accounts of alleged suspicious financial transactions linked to accounts associated with the former governor and his aides during his time in office.
Led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecution team, the officials reportedly presented transaction documents and statements intended to establish a trail of funds suspected to have been diverted from state resources.
Bello, who faces multiple counts of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds, has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that the charges are politically motivated.
The court session, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, was marked by the presentation of new financial records, which the prosecution claimed would strengthen its case. Defence counsel, however, raised objections to some of the exhibits, arguing that due process was not followed in obtaining them.
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing to a later date for the continuation of cross-examination of the witnesses.
The case has continued to attract significant public attention, with observers describing it as one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former state governor in recent years.
