EFCC Witness Clears Yahaya Bello of Involvement in Kogi LG Funds
A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that the name of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, did not feature in any of the local government financial transactions being investigated in his ongoing N80.2bn money laundering trial.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank Plc, made the disclosure while testifying as the seventh prosecution witness under cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Egoro, who was subpoenaed by the EFCC, confirmed that Bello neither appeared as a sender nor a recipient in the transactions involving funds from the 21 local government areas of Kogi State.
Earlier in the proceedings, Daudu told the court that the trial of the former governor over alleged local government fund transfers was political and not a money laundering case.
He made the clarification following remarks by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, who had described the payment patterns of the local governments as “stealing by disguise.”
While giving evidence, the banker admitted that Bello never served as a local government chairman in any of the councils in Kogi State.
He also stated that the contracts referenced in the exhibits before the court were awarded by local government chairmen to various contractors.
Egoro further reiterated that Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in the local government transactions tendered as evidence.
He also confirmed that entries contained in Exhibit 33(11), particularly transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited, were consistent with normal banking operations.
When asked about the purpose of several payments made on October 11, 2022, from different local governments into the account of Keyless Nature Limited, the witness said he did not know the purpose of the transactions.
“I do not know from the records whether there was any business or contractual relationship between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited,” Egoro told the court.
He also agreed that customers were entitled to spend their money as they wished, except where fraud was established.
Responding to further questions, the witness confirmed that Access Bank was not acting under any court order in respect of the transactions in Exhibit 33(11).
He added that there was no report of fraud linked to the transactions.
On transactions involving Fayzade Business Enterprise, Egoro identified an inflow on May 6, 2022, from Okene Local Government Area.
He said the stated purpose of the payment was the supply of reading materials.
He listed other payments from Ogorimagongo, Okehi, Omala and Yagba local government areas.
According to him, the payments were for education materials valued at N4.4m, medical items worth N7.5m, sporting equipment amounting to N10.8m, and medical consumables totaling N12.2m.
The witness added that additional payments were made for purposes ranging from agrochemicals and farm inputs to medical consumables.
When asked directly whether Bello was a local government chairman in any council in the state, Egoro replied that the defendant was not.
Justice Emeka Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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