The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, resumed on Wednesday with proceedings centering on the detailed flow of local government funds, as a banker was subjected to rigorous cross-examination by the defence.
The case, which involves an alleged ₦80,246,470,088.88 money laundering scheme, continued before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello on a 19-count charge.
At the resumed hearing, Prosecution Counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, presented the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc. Egoro, reaffirming his oath, was led through evidence detailing specific financial transactions linked to local government accounts.
During cross-examination by Defence Counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed several inflows from various Kogi State local government areas. He testified that the transactions, captured in exhibits before the court, were for specific procurements:
· ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply of medical items.
· ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022, for sporting materials.
· ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for medical consumables.
Egoro stated that these entries were consistent with normal banking transaction records. The cross-examination also covered transactions involving corporate entities mentioned in the charge, including Keyless Nature Limited and Fazab Oil, with the witness confirming a counter cheque payment and transfers amounting to millions of naira.
Earlier in the session, a procedural clash occurred when the defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from a separate but related Federal High Court case. While the prosecution raised no substantive objection, Pinheiro highlighted a technicality, noting the absence of official receipts as proof of payment for the certified documents.
Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution’s point of procedure, ruling that the documents could only be admitted upon the presentation of the requisite receipts. The defence counsel informed the court that efforts were underway to retrieve them.
The witness confirmed he was testifying pursuant to a subpoena and had tendered several exhibits. He also acknowledged having testified previously in another case involving the same documents but could not recall the specific defendants.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.
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