The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has adjourned the trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, until Tuesday, July 16, to continue the seventh prosecution witness’s (PW-7) evidence.

Mr Bello is the nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led Aminu Rabiu, who is the PW-7, in evidence in the ongoing trial of the defendants in the alleged money laundering charge.

The EFCC, in the charge, had sued Messrs Bello and Suleiman as the first and second defendants in the case.

Upon resumed hearing, Mr Oyedepo told the court that the matter was fixed for continuation of trial and that they were ready to proceed.

Counsel for Mr Bello, Abubakar Aliyu (SAN), and Mr Suleiman’s lawyer, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), indicated their readiness to proceed.

Mr Rabiu, who called himself a businessman from Falala Construction Company Limited, told the court that he was into interior decoration and furniture work.

He said he knows the former governor of Kogi and the two defendants the anti-graft agency is prosecuting.

The witness said the company, Falala Construction Ltd., maintains an account with Zenith Bank and stated, “I did one job for the state government. I demolished and rebuilt the presidential lodge in Kogi State Government’s House.”

He also said he had handled personal jobs for the former governor.

Mr Omotosho adjourned the matter until Tuesday for the continuation of the evidence in PW-7.

Mr Omotosho had, at the last hearing, adjourned the matter for trial continuation after the EFCC’s witness, Olom Otane Egoro, an Access Bank staff member, was cross-examined by the defence counsel.

While being led in evidence, the banker told the court that the EFCC, via a letter, had requested the bank statements of the Kogi government house from 2018 to 2021.

(NAN)