A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was not mentioned in any of the local government transactions under investigation.
The seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank, admitted during cross-examination by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, that the name “Yahaya Bello” did not appear as either a sender or recipient of funds in the local government accounts.
Egoro also acknowledged that, based on Exhibit 33(11), transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited were consistent with normal banking operations.
During the proceedings, Daudu argued that Bello’s trial regarding the alleged N80.2 billion local government fund transfers was politically motivated and did not constitute money laundering. He clarified that the former governor had never served as a local government chairman in any of Kogi State’s LGAs.
The banker further testified that the contracts in question were awarded by the local government chairmen to contractors for various purposes, as reflected in the company bank accounts presented as court exhibits.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, had earlier described the payments by local government areas as “stealing by disguise,” but the witness’ testimony highlighted that Bello’s name was not connected to the transactions under review.
