Witness: How Yahaya Bello’s nephew, others withdrew N10bn from Kogi govt account

Ali Bello

A prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, the nephew of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and two others, who are standing trial in a N10 billion money laundering case, on Thursday, January 11, told Justice James Omotsho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that huge funds were transferred in tranches from the accounts of the state government.

The witness also disclosed that some funds were transferred from the Kogi State Government House Administration account in suspicious transactions.

The governor’s nephew and two other defendants are being prosecuted on 10-count charges bordering on misappropriation and money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The witness, Bananda Edward, a Compliance Officer with United Bank of Africa (UBA), led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), presented a statement of account generated from the bank in respect of transactions in the state government and state government’s house administration accounts.

According to a statement issued by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, in the statement of accounts, there were cash withdrawals on December 23, 2022, to the tune of N20 million which were withdrawn in tranches of N10 million each from the Kogi State Government account in favour of Kudu Abdulsalam.

Oyedepo tendered the transactions as an exhibit in evidence but was opposed by A.M Alilu, counsel to the first defendant and Nureini Jimoh, counsel to the second defendant on the grounds that the documents did not satisfy the Bank Book 258 of the Evidence Act as well as Sections 89(h) and 91(e) of the same Evidence Act 2011.

Responding, Oyedepo prayed the court to discountenance the arguments of the defence counsels, arguing that the documents are original and genuine in the form they appear.

Justice Omotosho ruled in favour of the prosecution and admitted the documents in evidence.

The witness also examined an exhibit which contained transactions on December 28, 2022, where he revealed that there were cheque withdrawals of N10 million each in four places in favour of one Alhassan Onakaji.

He said: “On January 3, 2023, there was an inflow of N100 million and in January 4, 2023 there were withdrawals from the same account of N10 million each in nine withdrawals. There were further cheque withdrawals of N10 million each in favour of Abdulsalam Kudu.

“On January 11, 2023, there was an inflow of N100 million into the account and on January 24, 2023, there was also an inflow of N100 million into the account. On February 22, 2023, there were inflows of N24, 928,195.26 and N50 million. On February 6, 2023, there were inflows of N29,800,000, N16,740,000, N35,440,000, N22,700,000, N151,135,000.

“On February 6, 2023, there were also cash transfers in favour of Hussein Yusuf to the sum of N500,000.00; N300,000 in favour of Salaudin Abdulrazak; N500,000,00 in favour of Sule Ojo; N500,000,00 in favour of Shuab Abdulrasheed; N300,000.00 in favour Abubakar Magaji, N500,000.00 in favour of Abdulkareem Abdulraman; N1,300,000 in favour of Chrisenbirth Investment Ltd and N1,000,000 twice in favour of Peter Oha.

Justice Omotoso, after listening to the submissions of the witness, adjourned the matter till February 5 and 6, 2024, for continuation of hearing.

The Star