The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, resumed on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) providing further details of alleged illicit financial transactions.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge of money laundering involving a total of N80.2 billion. During Thursday’s proceedings, Prosecution Witness 8 (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), testified about N46.5 million that was reportedly transferred from the account of Kunfayakun Global Limited to the American International School (AIS).
According to Ochoche, N30 million was sent to AIS on 1 November 2021, followed by another N16,505,400 payment. The witness explained that he had submitted statements of account, certificates of compliance, and account-opening documents covering transactions between June 2021 and August 2022, which were admitted as exhibits in court.
Ochoche further highlighted other major inflows to Kunfayakun Global Limited, including N700 million via NIP transfer from Keyless Nature Limited on 15 December 2021 and N400 million through RTGS on 17 December 2021 from the same company.
The witness also identified multiple transfers from Gadonkaya Global Concept and Ejadams Essence Limited, amounting to hundreds of millions of naira, some of which were directed to educational institutions.
Recall that earlier in the trial, Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank, testified that a N20 million entry on 22 June 2022 was for the supply of educational materials and not a cash withdrawal. He also confirmed that a client, Yakubu Siyaka, made multiple cash withdrawals totaling over N552 million between 2019 and 2022, noting that banks have reporting obligations where transactions deviate from a customer’s normal profile.
The trial continues before Justice Emeka Nwite as the EFCC seeks to establish the movement of funds and Bello’s alleged role in the laundering scheme.
