Alleged N80.2bn fraud: Witness Reveals How N117m Was Moved From 13 Kogi LG Accounts

The seventh witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank in the ongoing trial of a former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello on Tuesday told a Federal High Court, Abuja how a total sum of about N117 million was moved from the account of 13 local government areas of the State.

The PW7 who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, professor Ken Pinheiro, SAN told the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite that, out of the total amount of inflows from the 13 local government areas, a total sum of N115 million was withdrawn by cash withdrawal through cheque by one, Yakubu Adadenega Siaka.

He told the court that on May 6, 2022, there was a total of N117 million from 13 local government areas of Kogi state, namely Yagba East, Omala, Yagba West, Idah, Okene, Ijimu, Olamaboro, Ofu, Okehi, Ogonimangogo, Igalamela Odolu, Ibaji and Dekina.

Bello is being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Nwite for alleged diversion and misappropriation of Kogi State funds to the tune of N80.2 billion while serving as governor.

The proceedings of Monday featured the continuation of the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, PW4, Mashelia Arhyel and the testimonies of three other witnesses from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank and Access Bank.

The defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, continued the cross-examination of Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, who earlier testified as the fourth prosecution witness.

Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke in multiples of N10 million.

He further testified that several hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels, were beneficiaries of various transactions from the account.

After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.

The prosecution thereafter called Jesutoni Akoni, a Compliance Officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, as PW5.

Akoni, who appeared under subpoena, produced and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, which was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.

She identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, among others, which ranged from N3 million to N20 million.

The Sixth Prosecution Witness, PW6, Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also appeared under subpoena. He produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31 by the court.

He testified that between February 17 and February 22, 2021, a total of N100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak.

The witness disclosed under cross-examination that he did not know Murtala and Mubarak.

The Monday proceedings ended with the testimony of Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who appeared as PW7 and produced 12 sets of documents in compliance with a subpoena issued to the bank.

He informed the court that while some account opening packages could not be retrieved, the bank provided sufficient customer details extracted from its database.