Yahaya Bello EFCC trial continues as witness traces over ₦2.5bn in Kogi local government funds, with massive cash withdrawals detailed in court

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with detailed testimony on cash movements linked to Kogi State local government funds.

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Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge of money laundering involving ₦80,246,470,088.88.

At the resumed hearing, Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, provided an extensive breakdown of transactions traced to the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-traders International Limited, which the prosecution alleged received funds originating from Kogi State local governments.

Led by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Egoro confirmed that the accounts received inflows from various Kogi State local governments between 2021 and 2022.

He tendered Exhibit 33(8)—the statement of account of Fazab Business Enterprise—and detailed inflows on May 6 and May 9, 2022.

On May 6, 2022, 11 separate deposits were made into the Fazab account from local government councils including Yagba East, Yala, Ida, and Okene, while May 9 saw two deposits from Ibaji and Dekina councils. The total inflows for those two days amounted to ₦117,938,762.29.

Egoro testified that substantial cash withdrawals were subsequently made by one Yakubu Siyaka A., who withdrew ₦116.6 million between May 9 and May 26, 2022, leaving a balance of just over ₦1.2 million by May 31, 2022.

The witness said similar inflow and withdrawal patterns persisted from June through December 2022. Total inflows into the Fazab account during this eight-month period amounted to ₦2,563,722,942.55, with cash withdrawals totalling ₦582.3 million.

Funds were also transferred to companies and individuals, including Konforte Koncept Company, Abba Adaudu, Shetland Logistics Services Limited, Ejadams Essence Limited, and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise, which alone received ₦430 million between October and December 2022.

Turning to Exhibit 33(6), the statement of account for E-traders International Limited, Egoro identified Abdullahi Jamilu as the first signatory.

Between July 26, 2021, and April 6, 2022, repeated cash deposits—mostly in tranches of ₦10 million—were made into the account by individuals including Abba Adaudu, Jamilu Abdullahi, and Haruna Mohammed, totalling ₦3,145,569,654. Although deposited at Access Bank’s Lokoja Branch, the account was opened at the Mararaba Branch in Nasarawa State.

At the close of proceedings, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, informed the court of an application dated January 19, 2026, seeking the release of Bello’s international passport to undertake the lesser Hajj during Ramadan.

The prosecution did not oppose the request but requested that the FCT High Court, where Bello faces another trial, be formally notified.

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Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to Friday, January 30, 2026, for the continuation of PW7’s testimony and further proceedings.