EFCC witness: Yahaya Bello’s name not in bank records of Kogi government house

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a federal high court in Abuja that Yahaya Bello’s name did not feature in any of the account opening packages for the Kogi state government house bank account domiciled with the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Bello, the former governor of Kogi, is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80 billion.

At the court session on Thursday, Kemi Pinheiro, the EFCC counsel, called the second witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with UBA, to present her evidence.

Williams, who was subpoenaed to provide financial records, said Bello’s name did not feature in all the withdrawals from account number 1003889575 managed by UBA for the Kogi government house during his tenure as the governor.

The subpoena, according to the prosecution, requested for the production of the statement of account of one Maselina Njoku, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. 

The witness also tendered the account statements operated while Bello was the governor. 

She read out series of withdrawals through cheques from the account for the government house operations. 

Specifically, she named one Abdulsalami Hudu as the person handling fund withdrawals on behalf of the government house. 

However, under cross examination by Joseph Daudu, lead counsel to Bello, the witness said Bello’s name did not feature in all transactions in respect of the bank account. 

The witness also admitted that she was not the accounts officer of the Kogi government house account.

She added that the account is domiciled in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, and not in Area 3, Abuja, where she works. 

The witness confirmed 10 withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu, in the sum of N10 million each on December 12, 2018.

She said the withdrawals were done with cheques and presented across the counter.

“As a compliance officer, I may not know who the account officer was. The account in issue was neither domiciled in Lagos or Abuja, but in Lokoja, Kogi state,” the witness said.

“The mandate forms contained names, signatures, phone numbers and passport photographs of those that authorised the cheques. But the address captured on them was that of the government house and not that of the signatories.

“There were three signatories on the cheques. Their names and designations are Christopher Emefola, a permanent secretary at the government house; Onekutu Daniel, the chief accountant; and Abdussalam Hudu, accountant of the government house.”

The witness further listed names of signatories to the government house administration account as J. B. Achebulu, permanent secretary; A. A. Umar, director admin and finance; David Ajefu, assistant director account; Yakubu Ismail, permanent secretary, and another person she said only his photograph appeared on the document before the court.

Continuing cross-examination, Daudu asked, “now, in both the account opening documents and the statement of account from E1 to E72, does the name ‘Yahaya Bello’ appear anywhere?”

“No, the name Yahaya Bello does not feature,” the witness responded. 

The defendant’s lawyer again asked, “Please look at Exhibit 2P1-3P62. Does the name ‘Yahaya Bello’ appear anywhere in the document?”

“My lord, the name Yahaya Bello does not feature on the exhibits,” the witness answered.

Daudu then closed his cross-examination.

Another witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, was presented by the prosecution.

Among the documents he submitted to the court was an agreement for prepaid school fees covering Bello’s five children enrolled at the school.

The witness testified that while the children’s tuition had been paid in advance until their graduation, the school refunded the money to an account provided by the EFCC following a directive from the anti-graft agency.

He further stated that Bello’s youngest child, Nana-Fatima, who was in kindergarten, had her tuition fees deposited into the school’s account at T.D. Bank, USA, to cover a 10-year period.

Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, adjourned the matter till Friday for continuation of the hearing.