A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has told a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that cash withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration accounts violated no known law.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank and the 10th prosecution witness (PW10), gave the testimony on Wednesday during cross-examination before Justice Maryann Anenih at the Maitama division of the High Court.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on allegations of money laundering involving about N110.4 billion.
The charges were brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Under cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), Egoro stated that the withdrawals carried out by individuals from the Government House account were in line with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines.
He identified Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju — a signatory to the account — as one of those who made withdrawals.
According to the witness, Olanrewaju was listed in the account opening documents as a civil servant and Director of Accounts in the Kogi State Government Administration.
Egoro told the court that, as a bank official, he was not privy to the internal workings of the Government House account and could not determine the specific purposes of withdrawals beyond what was stated in the transaction records.
Importantly, the witness noted that Bello was neither a Local Government Chairman nor directly linked to any of the transactions presented before the court.
When asked about a transaction dated May 6, 2022, Egoro confirmed that N14,453,900.84 was paid for the supply of reading materials to Okene Local Government. He added that other payments were made for sporting equipment, agrochemicals, farm inputs and medical consumables.
He further disclosed that:
N10.6 million from Ibaji Local Government statutory revenue was used for agrochemicals.
N7.3 million from Mopa Muro Local Government was for relief materials.
N9.9 million from Ofu Local Government was for agrochemicals and related items.
Earlier in the proceedings, prosecuting counsel Kemi Pinheiro tendered a subpoena signed by the Managing Director of Access Bank, along with account statements of the Kogi State Government House Administration from January 2016 to January 2024.
Statements of accounts for several companies — including Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited and Keyless Nature Limited — were also submitted.
Although counsel to the second and third defendants, Z. E. Abbas, opposed the admission of the documents, Justice Anenih admitted them, ruling that their evidentiary weight would be determined at a later stage.
Egoro confirmed that the bank filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in compliance with regulatory requirements.
He also revealed that multiple withdrawals of N10 million each were made between January 15 and 16, 2018, by Olanrewaju, and on March 8 by Abdulsalami Hudu. The court heard that the account received several inflows from various local government areas, alongside cash withdrawals by Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege.
The trial has been adjourned until March 10 for further hearing.