EFCC Witness: No Transaction Links Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello

• EFCC prosecution witness testified that no transaction in key exhibits bears former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello’s name.
• Withdrawals mentioned were within Central Bank of Nigeria limits and not automatically suspicious.
• Court proceedings continue with further evidence and cross-examination scheduled for March.

A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has maintained that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s name does not appear in bank documents presented as evidence in his alleged money laundering trial. The testimony comes amid cross-examination by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, and clarifies that withdrawals in the exhibits fell within legal limits.

Examination Reveals No Direct Link to Bello

Olomotane Egoro, the EFCC’s seventh prosecution witness and an Access Bank officer, confirmed before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja that Exhibit 33(8) contained no transactions signed or authorised by Bello.

Egoro also noted that withdrawals between May and December 2022 were within the cash withdrawal thresholds set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and not all were considered suspicious, even when reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

The witness further stated he did not know the business relationships behind some transactions or the precise purpose beyond what was recorded in the bank statements. On queries regarding account signatories in the Kogi State Government House accounts, Egoro confirmed that individuals such as Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju conducted withdrawals within allowed limits, and Bello was neither a signatory nor a beneficiary.

EFCC Continues Proceedings and Additional Evidence

The trial also saw the introduction of other exhibits, including the account details of E-Traders International Limited, where Egoro confirmed the authorized signatories and noted their rights to conduct transactions. EFCC lawyer Kayode Enitan then called the next witness, Gabriel Ochoche of FCMB, who reviewed transactions from June 2021 to December 2024 involving companies like Keyless Nature Limited and Kunfayakun Global Business Enterprise.

Cross-examination of this witness was delayed as Bello’s counsel requested time to review the proof of evidence, which the court noted had already been provided over two years ago. Justice Nwite adjourned the trial until March 3 and 9 for continuation, signalling further scrutiny of the documents and testimonies in the case.

Read also: Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Cross-Examine Witness in Yahaya Bello’s Fraud Case

The proceedings underscore the EFCC’s detailed financial investigation process while highlighting the defence’s effort to challenge the links between the former governor and alleged transactions, as Nigeria’s courts continue to handle high-profile anti-corruption cases.