₦80.2bn Kogi fraud: ₦3.1bn LG funds paid into E-traders account in eight months — Witness

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with fresh revelations on the movement of local government funds.

A compliance officer with Access Bank, Olomotane Egoro, who testified as Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), told the court that about ₦3.1 billion in cash was lodged into the account of E-traders International Limited within eight months.

Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering involving ₦80,246,470,088.88.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Egoro presented detailed transaction records of accounts linked to Fazab Business Enterprise and E-traders International Limited, which he said received funds traced to Kogi State local government councils.

The witness told the court that on May 6 and May 9, 2022, multiple inflows from several Kogi local governments, including Yagba East, Yala, Ida, Okene, Ibaji and Dekina, were paid into the Fazab Business Enterprise account. He said the total inflow for the period stood at ₦117,938,762.29.

According to him, almost the entire amount was subsequently withdrawn in cash by one Yakubu Siyaka A., who made repeated withdrawals between May 9 and May 26, 2022, amounting to ₦116.6 million, leaving a balance of just over ₦1 million in the account.

Egoro further testified that similar patterns of inflows from Kogi local governments and cash withdrawals continued in June and July 2022, with total inflows of ₦250.5 million and cash withdrawals of about ₦198.9 million.

He said from August to December 2022, a total of ₦2.19 billion was credited into the Fazab Business Enterprise account, bringing the total inflow from May to December 2022 to ₦2.56 billion. Cash withdrawals during the period, he added, amounted to ₦582.3 million.

The witness also told the court that several transfers were made from the Fazab account to different individuals and companies, including Konforte Koncept Company, Abba Adaudu, Shetland Logistics Services Limited, Ejadams Essence Limited and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise, which reportedly received ₦430 million through multiple transfers.

Turning to the account of E-traders International Limited, Egoro said it received numerous cash deposits, mostly in tranches of ₦10 million, made at the Lokoja Branch of Access Bank by individuals including Abba Adaudu, Jamilu Abdullahi and Haruna Mohammed.

He testified that between July 26, 2021 and April 6, 2022, a total of ₦3,145,569,654 was deposited in cash into the E-traders account within about eight months. He added that although the deposits were made in Lokoja, the account was opened at the Mararaba Branch of Access Bank in Nasarawa State.

At the close of proceedings, Bello’s counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, informed the court of an application seeking the release of the defendant’s international passport to enable him travel for the lesser Hajj during Ramadan. The prosecution said it did not oppose the request but urged the court to notify the Federal Capital Territory High Court, where Bello is facing another charge.

Justice Nwite adjourned the case to Friday, January 30, 2026, for the continuation of testimony and further hearing.