Counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has described the ongoing trial over the alleged transfer of ₦80.2 billion in local government funds as politically motivated, insisting that the case has nothing to do with money laundering.
The defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), made the assertion on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja during proceedings in the case instituted against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Daudu’s remarks followed comments made in open court by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who argued that the pattern of payments by local government areas in Kogi State amounted to “stealing in disguise.”
However, the defence maintained that the prosecution’s own evidence had failed to link the former governor to any of the transactions under investigation.
Testifying as the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank, admitted under cross-examination that Yahaya Bello was never a local government chairman in any of Kogi State’s 21 local government areas.
The banker further confirmed that contracts referenced in the case were awarded by local government chairmen to contractors for various purposes, as reflected in the bank statements of companies tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.
Egoro also acknowledged that Bello’s name did not appear in any of the transactions involving local government funds, either as a sender or a beneficiary.
“There is no mention of the name Yahaya Bello in any of the local government transactions under investigation,” the witness admitted.
He further agreed that, based on Exhibit 33(11), the transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited were consistent with normal banking activities.
During cross-examination, Daudu drew the court’s attention to multiple payments made by local governments into the Keyless Nature Limited account, including transfers dated 11 October 2022.
When asked if he knew the purpose of those transactions, the witness replied that he did not. He also admitted that he could not determine from the records whether there was any contractual or business relationship between the local governments and the company.
The witness further stated that customers were entitled to spend their funds as they wished, provided there was no evidence of fraud.
Confirming this position, Egoro admitted that Access Bank was not operating under any court order in relation to the transactions and had no report of fraud connected to them.
On payments made to Fayzade Business Enterprise, the witness identified a transaction dated 6 May 2022 as an inflow from Okene Local Government Area, with the stated purpose being the supply of reading materials.
He also outlined several other transactions from different local governments, including payments for education materials valued at ₦4.4 million; medical items worth ₦7.5 million; sporting equipment costing ₦10.8 million; and medical consumables amounting to ₦12.2 million.
According to the witness, other payments were made for agrochemicals, farm inputs, and additional medical consumables.
When asked directly whether Yahaya Bello was a local government chairman in Kogi State, the witness responded plainly: “No, the defendant was not a local government chairman.”
Following the proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to 5 and 6 February 2026 for the continuation of trial.
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