N80bn Fraud Trial: Yahaya Bello Not Linked to Firms Handling Kogi LG Funds — Access Bank Witness Tells Court

A compliance officer with Access Bank, Olomotane Egoro, on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is neither a signatory nor a beneficiary of accounts belonging to companies allegedly linked to local government funds under investigation.

Egoro gave the clarification during cross-examination in the ongoing trial of Bello, who is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about N80.2 billion.

Testifying before the court, the bank official said Bello’s name did not appear in the account opening documents or transaction records of the companies under scrutiny, including E-Traders International Limited, Keyless Nature Limited, Westwood Motors Limited, and Fazab Business Enterprise.

According to the witness, none of the records presented showed the former governor as a director, signatory, or beneficiary in the financial activities of the firms.

During earlier proceedings, Egoro had explained how funds allegedly belonging to Kogi State local government areas were traced to accounts operated by Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Limited. He told the court that N2.5 billion was paid into Fazab Business Enterprise’s account over an eight-month period in 2022, while N3.1 billion was lodged in the account of E-Traders International Limited.

He also identified one Yakubu Siyaka as the individual who carried out several cash withdrawals from the accounts, but added under cross-examination that not all the withdrawals were suspicious.

Under questioning by defence counsel, Joseph Dauda, SAN, the compliance officer maintained that Bello was not listed in any of the companies’ mandates or transaction documents. He further told the court that he was unaware of the business relationships between the firms involved or the specific purposes of some of the transfers made between October and December 2022.

Following the session, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the matter to March 3 and March 9 for continuation of trial.