A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama that multiple withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration accounts breached no known law.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank and the 10th prosecution witness (PW10), made the assertion under cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN). Bello is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu over an alleged N110.4 billion money laundering charge.
Egoro stated that the withdrawals referenced in his testimony complied with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines. He identified Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju as one of the signatories to the Kogi State Government House Administration account, noting that account opening documents described him as a civil servant and Director of Accounts in the state administration.
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He added that as a bank official, he was not privy to the internal operations of the Government House account and could not determine the purpose of the withdrawals beyond the transaction descriptions provided. He further told the court that Bello was neither a local government chairman nor linked to any of the transactions presented.
Confirming specific entries, Egoro said a May 6, 2022 transaction of N14,453,900.84 was for the supply of reading materials to Okene Local Government. Other payments, he noted, covered sporting equipment, agrochemicals, farm inputs and medical consumables.
According to him, a N10.6 million lodgement from Ibaji Local Government statutory revenue was for agrochemicals, while N7.3 million from Mopa Muro Local Government was for relief materials. He also cited a N9.9 million inflow from Ofu Local Government for the procurement of agrochemicals and related items.
Earlier, while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, the witness tendered a subpoena signed by the Managing Director of Access Bank. The subpoena was accompanied by statements of account for the Kogi State Government House Administration from January 2016 to January 2024.
Also tendered were account statements of Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited and Keyless Nature Limited, among others.
Although counsel to the second and third defendants, Z. E. Abbas, opposed the admission of the documents, Justice Maryann Anenih admitted them, stating that their evidential weight would be determined at a later stage.
Egoro confirmed that the bank observed multiple cash withdrawals from the Government House account and subsequently filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in line with regulatory requirements.
He disclosed that there were repeated withdrawals of N10 million each between January 15 and 16, 2018 by Olanrewaju, and another on March 8 by Abdulsalami Hudu. He also referenced several credit inflows from local government councils and cash withdrawals by Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege.
The court adjourned further hearing in the case until March 10.
