N20 bn Was Transferred From Kogi State Govt Account to Yahaya Bello’s Nephew — Witness

In an ongoing legal saga, Ali Bello, who happens to be the nephew of Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, is facing trial alongside two others over a money laundering case involving a hefty N20 billion transfer from Kogi State. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against them, accusing the defendants of misappropriation and money laundering.

During a recent court session, a key witness, Bananda Edward, a Compliance Officer at United Bank of Africa (UBA), provided crucial details on suspicious transactions linked to the transfer of N20 billion from the Kogi State government’s accounts.

The transactions, outlined in a statement of account from UBA, revealed a series of fund transfers from both the Kogi State Government account and the government House Administration account.

One particularly noteworthy revelation was the cash withdrawals of N20 million on December 23, 2022, drawn in increments of N10 million each from the Kogi State Government account, with the beneficiary being Kudu Abdulsalam.

The witness, guided by the prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, presented these findings to the court.

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However, defense counsels contested the admission of these transactions as exhibits, arguing non-compliance with specific sections of the Evidence Act.

In response, the prosecution asserted that the documents were authentic and should be deemed relevant to the trial. Justice James Omotoso sided with the prosecution, admitting the documents as evidence.

Continuing the examination, the witness shed light on various transactions, including cheque withdrawals, inflows, and cash transfers that transpired on different dates in 2022 and 2023.

The trial is scheduled to resume on February 5 and 6, with the court delving deeper into the alleged misappropriation and money laundering activities involving Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello, and two others.

The court remains focused on scrutinizing the presented evidence to determine the veracity of the charges.