Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday adjourned the high-profile corruption trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to October 7 and 10, 2025, following the absence of the fourth prosecution witness.
The case, which centers on the alleged N80.2 billion fraud during Bello’s tenure as governor, was slated for the cross-examination of Aryan Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank. However, proceedings were stalled when the witness failed to appear.
Witness Attending Mandatory Training
Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that the witness was unavailable due to mandatory training.
“My lord, the matter was for cross-examination of PW4, Aryan Mashelia Bata, but the witness is attending mandatory training and will not be available for today’s proceedings,” Pinheiro told the court.
He added that both the court and the defence had been notified of the situation and proposed October 6 for continuation. However, the defence opposed that particular date.
Defence Raises Objection to Proposed Date
Defence counsel, Abubakar Aliyu (SAN), did not object to the adjournment but disagreed with the proposed October 6 afternoon session, suggesting October 7 and 10 or alternative dates in November.
Aliyu also informed the court of a pending motion regarding a publication on the EFCC website, which he claimed could prejudice the ongoing trial. He requested the court hear the motion on October 7.
New Trial Dates Fixed
Following deliberations, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to the following dates:
October 7 and 10, 2025 – for cross-examination and motion hearing
November 8 and 9, 2025 – for continuation of the trial
A Case Under National Scrutiny
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is facing multiple charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totaling over N80.2 billion.
The former governor has consistently denied the allegations, often challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the legality of EFCC’s investigations.
The case has remained in the national spotlight as a critical test of Nigeria’s judicial resolve in tackling high-profile corruption, particularly involving powerful former public officials.
