Fresh twist in alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi fraud trial as witness reveals ₦46.5m school transfer

Trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Eighth Prosecution Witness, PW8, Gabriel Ochoche, testifying how the sum of N46.5m was transferred into the account of American International School.

According to the Head, Media & Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, Bello is being prosecuted by the Commission, on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦80.2bn.

The prosecution called Prosecution Witness 8 (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), who testified pursuant to a subpoena.

Led in evidence by Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the subpoena was tendered without objection from the defence and was admitted by the court as Exhibit 36.

PW8 told the court that among several payments, there were payments to educational institutions, including a ₦30m transfer on November 1, 2021, to American International School / Abdul Bashir, as well as another transfer of ₦16m to American International School.

PW8 also confirmed that he was in court with the statement of account, certificate of compliance and account opening documents of Kunfayakun Global Limited, Account No: 7819613011, covering transactions from June 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022. The documents were admitted in evidence as Exhibit 37 without objection.

When asked to confirm the period covered, the witness stated: “The period covered is from June 29, 2021, to December 31, 2024.”

Explaining the structure of the statement of account, PW8 said it contains seven columns, namely: date, reference, description, value date, deposit, withdrawal and balance.

Reading from Exhibit 37, PW8 identified several major transactions, including an NIP transfer of ₦700m from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021, and an RTGS inflow of ₦400m on December 17, 2021, from Access Bank, by order of the same company. He explained that RTGS is a transfer carried out by one bank on behalf of a customer.

On November 2, 2021, PW8 confirmed multiple inflows from Gadonkaya Global Concept into Kunfayakun’s account, ₦10m, ₦10m and ₦8.96m alongside another outflow of ₦34.5m to American School and China Payment / Abdul Bashir.

PW8 also told the court that on February 18, 2022, there were six separate NIP transfers of ₦100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited, totaling ₦600m.

Asked to confirm the total inflow, the witness said: “Yes, my lord, I confirm that ₦600m was received from Ejadams Essence Limited.”

He further identified an RTGS inflow of ₦325m on February 21, 2022, with a value date of February 18, 2022, from Access Bank, by order of Ejadams.

Earlier in the proceedings, Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, continued his testimony under cross-examination.

Defence counsel drew his attention to Exhibit 33(8), particularly an entry of June 22, 2022, which the witness confirmed was an outflow of ₦20m for the supply of educational materials. When asked if it was a cash withdrawal, Egoro replied: “No, my lord.”

He also confirmed that he could not identify the beneficiary from the document.

Egoro acknowledged multiple cash withdrawals made by Yakubu Siyaka between January 9, 2019, and December 30, 2022, totaling over ₦552m.

Explaining the bank’s obligations, he said: “The customer can use his money as he likes; however, the bank has a reporting obligation where transactions do not fit the customer’s profile or fall under money laundering typologies.”

He further confirmed that Access Bank filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), but stated that by law, its contents could not be disclosed in court.

When defence counsel J.B. Daudu SAN attempted to question the witness on the contents of the STR, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected, arguing that questioning a document not before the court contravened the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Justice Nwite upheld the objection, ruling that: “Counsel cannot ask questions on the contents of a document not before the court.”

Following the rectification of payment receipts, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of proceedings from Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s court dated May 12, 2025, was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 35(D2) without objection.

Additional documents admitted included: Exhibit 34(1): Kogi State Government House account opening package, Exhibit 34(2): Kogi State Government House Administration account and Exhibit 33(6): E-Traders International Limited account opening package and statement of account.

PW7 confirmed signatories, transaction patterns and Access Bank’s compliance oversight across its branches.

With no re-examination by the prosecution, Justice Nwite discharged PW7 from the witness box and adjourned the matter to March 3 and March 9, 2026, for continuation of the trial.