How ₦46.5m was paid to American school in ₦80.2bn Yahaya Bello’s fraud trial

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering case resumed on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how millions of naira were transferred to an educational institution.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering totalling ₦80,246,470,088.88.

Testifying as the eighth prosecution witness (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that ₦46.5 million was paid into the account of the American International School through two separate transactions.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the witness said the payments included a ₦30 million transfer made on November 1, 2021, and another ₦16,505,400 sent to the same institution.

Ochoche, who appeared in court on subpoena, presented the statement of account, certificate of compliance and account opening documents of Kunfayakun Global Limited.

The documents, covering transactions between mid-2021 and 2022, were admitted as evidence.

He explained that the bank records showed several large inflows into the account, including ₦700 million from Keyless Nature Limited and ₦400 million via RTGS transfer.

Multiple credits were also recorded from Gadonkaya Global Concept, alongside an outflow of over ₦34.5 million to the American school and another beneficiary.

The witness further told the court that six separate transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, were received from Ejadams Essence Limited in February 2022, followed by an additional ₦325 million RTGS inflow from the same source.

Earlier, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, continued his cross-examination.

Egoro confirmed several transactions on accounts linked to the case, including a ₦20 million payment for educational materials, which he clarified was not a cash withdrawal.

He also stated that multiple cash withdrawals amounting to more than ₦552 million were made over time by another individual connected to the accounts.

He noted that while customers are free to operate their accounts, banks are required to flag unusual transactions.

According to him, Access Bank filed a Suspicious Transaction Report with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, but the contents could not be disclosed in court.

Justice Emeka Nwite upheld an objection by the prosecution when defence counsel attempted to question the witness on the contents of the confidential report, ruling that questions could not be asked on documents not before the court.

Several additional documents, including account opening packages and certified court records, were admitted into evidence.

Following the testimonies, the court discharged PW7 and adjourned the case to March 3 and March 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.