By Peace Udugba -The daily torch
FCT Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Trial to March 10 as EFCC Witness Says Transactions Followed CBN Guidelines
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to March 10, 11 and 12, 2026, following the testimony of the 10th prosecution witness, who maintained that the transactions in question did not breach any law.
The witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, told the court that the cash withdrawals referenced in his testimony were in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He stated that he had been working with the bank since May 2023.
Egoro confirmed that Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, who allegedly made withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account, was one of the signatories to the account. According to the account opening documents, Olanrewaju was a civil servant and Director of Accounts in the Kogi State Government Administration.
The witness said that as an official of Access Bank, he was not privy to the internal workings of the Kogi Government House account and could not state the specific purposes of the withdrawals beyond what was reflected in the transaction details. He noted that his testimony was similar to the one he gave before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
Under cross-examination, the banker admitted that former Governor Yahaya Bello was neither a local government chairman nor was his name linked to any of the transactions presented before the court. This clarification was made in relation to transactions between various Local Government Areas in Kogi State and Fazab Business Enterprise, among others.
Responding to questions from defence counsel, Daudu SAN, the witness confirmed that a transaction dated May 6, 2022, for N14,453,900.84 was for the supply of reading materials to Okene Local Government.
He further stated that other payments were made for sporting equipment, agrochemicals, farm inputs and medical consumables. Specifically, he said 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 the supply of relief materials. Another N9.9 million from Ofu Local Government was for the procurement of agrochemicals.
During the examination-in-chief, the court admitted into evidence a subpoena signed by the Managing Director of Access Bank. The subpoena included statements of account for the Kogi State Government House Administration from January 2016 to January 2024, as well as statements from Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited and Keyless Nature Limited, among others.
Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Z.E. Abbas, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the certificate of identification did not comply with the Evidence Act. He said he would provide detailed reasons in his final written address.
In response, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the objection as a fishing expedition and also said he would address the issue in his final written submission.
Justice Maryann Anenih admitted the documents, stating that the issue of admissibility would be determined at the appropriate time if the objection was found to be justifiable.
The Kogi Government House account statements were marked as Exhibits AH1 and AH2, while the statements of 11 other companies were marked from AG to AR.
The witness also confirmed that the bank filed Suspicious Transaction Reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in respect of multiple cash withdrawals, including several N10 million withdrawals made between January 15 and 16, 2018, by Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, and another on March 8 by Abdulsalami Hudu.
However, he reiterated under cross-examination that no law was flouted, maintaining that the withdrawals complied with CBN guidelines.
Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10, 11 and 12, 2026, for continuation of trial.
