The trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged N80.2 billion money-laundering scheme resumed on Thursday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how N46.5 million was transferred to the American International School (AIS).
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness 8 (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that the payments were made from the account of Kunfayakun Global Limited.
“Among the payments identified were transfers to educational institutions, including N30 million on November 1, 2021, to American International School/Abdul Bashir, and another N16,505,400 to American International School,” Ochoche told the court.
Led in evidence by Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the witness appeared pursuant to a subpoena, which was admitted as Exhibit 36 without objection from the defence.
Ochoche further confirmed that he tendered the statement of account, certificate of compliance and account-opening documents for Kunfayakun Global Limited, Account No: 7819613011, covering transactions between June 2021 and August 2022.
The documents were admitted as Exhibit 37.
“The period covered is from June 29, 2021, to December 31, 2024,” he clarified.
Explaining the statement of account, PW8 said it contained columns for date, reference, description, value date, deposit, withdrawal and balance.
Reading from Exhibit 37, the witness identified major inflows, including N700 million via NIP transfer from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021 and N400 million RTGS inflow on December 17, 2021, from Access Bank, by order of the same company.
“RTGS is a transfer carried out by one bank on behalf of a customer,” Ochoche explained.
He also told the court that on November 2, 2021, Kunfayakun Global Limited received multiple inflows from Gadonkaya Global Concept — N10 million, N10 million and N8.96 million — and recorded an outflow of N34,506,600 to American School and China Payment/Abdul Bashir.
On February 18, 2022, PW8 said there were six separate NIP transfers of N100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited, amounting to N600 million.
“Yes, my lord, I confirm that N600 million was received from Ejadams Essence Limited,” the witness said.
He also identified an RTGS inflow of N325 million on February 21, 2022, with a value date of February 18, 2022, ordered by Ejadams through Access Bank.
Earlier, Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, testified under cross-examination that an entry of N20 million on June 22, 2022, was an outflow for the supply of educational materials.
“No, My Lord, it was not a cash withdrawal,” Egoro said, adding that he could not identify the beneficiary from the document.
Egoro also acknowledged that Yakubu Siyaka made multiple cash withdrawals totalling over N552 million between January 9, 2019, and December 30, 2022.
“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 told the court.
The case continues before Justice Emeka Nwite.
