An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that there is no evidence linking the immediate Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State to payments arising from contract awards by local governments in the state.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank and the seventh prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial, said under cross-examination that Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary or signatory in any of the exhibits tendered by the EFCC.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, Egoro confirmed that Exhibit 33(8), a statement of account relied upon by the prosecution, contained no transaction bearing the name “Yahaya Adoza Bello.”
Egoro was taken through bank records of E-Traders International Limited, Keyless Nature Limited, Westwood Motors Limited and Fazab Business Enterprise companies the EFCC alleged were awarded contracts by local governments in Kogi State.
After examining the account opening packages and statements of account, the witness said Bello was not a signatory to any of the accounts, was not named as a party to any transaction, and was not listed as a beneficiary of any payment made through the companies.
He further testified that cash withdrawals made between May and December 2022, earlier highlighted during his examination-in-chief, were within the withdrawal limits prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
On allegations of suspicious transactions reportedly filed with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Access Bank official said not all cash withdrawals by one Siyaka Yakubu were suspicious, explaining that assessments were based on transaction patterns.
Egoro agreed under questioning by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, that payments such as the N20 million transfer for the supply of educational materials would not qualify as suspicious transactions.
He added that he was not aware of the business relationship between some of the companies involved in certain transactions between October and December 2022, nor the specific purposes of those transactions beyond what was stated in the bank narrations.
During the proceedings, Justice Nwite admitted a certified true copy of proceedings before Justice Obiora Egwuatu as Exhibit 35(D-2).
Egoro also confirmed Exhibits 34(1) and 34(2) as the Kogi State Government House account opening package and Government House Administration account, respectively, but said he was neither the relationship manager for the accounts nor familiar with the internal operations of the Kogi State Government House.
He confirmed that Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju was listed as Director of Accounts and a signatory to the Government House account, adding that cash withdrawals made in tranches of N10 million by Olanrewaju and Abdulsalam Hudu did not exceed CBN-approved limits.
Under further cross-examination, the witness again confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in Exhibit 34(2) as a beneficiary and that the former governor was not a signatory to the Government House accounts.
On the account of E-Traders International Limited domiciled at Access Bank’s Maraba branch, Egoro identified Abdullahi Jamilu and Salisu Abdulmajeed as signatories, with their occupations listed as “sale of systems and appliances.” He said Jamilu, as a signatory, was entitled to transact on the account and that he did not know the purpose of the transactions beyond the descriptions provided.
Following Egoro’s testimony, the prosecution called its eighth witness, Gabriel Ochoche, a staff member of First City Monument Bank (FCMB). Ochoche confirmed Exhibit 37 as the statement of account of Kunfayakun Global Company, covering transactions from June 29, 2021, to December 31, 2024.
He also testified on transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited and Kunfayakun Global Business Enterprise, including multiple transfers between Eja Dams Essence Limited and Kunfayakun on February 18, 2022.
Defence counsel requested time to study the evidence before cross-examining the witness, a request opposed by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who said the proof of evidence had been served on the defence more than two years earlier.
Justice Nwite, citing exhaustion after proceedings that began shortly after 9 a.m. and extended beyond 3 p.m., adjourned the matter at the instance of the court.
The case was adjourned to March 3 and March 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.
