‘N10bn money laundering’: I can’t recall if Kogi CoS made withdrawals from state’s account, EFCC witness tells court

Edward Bananda, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says he could not remember whether or not Ali Bello, chief of staff (CoS), to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, made withdrawals from the state government account. 

Bello, a nephew to Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi, was among the appointees announced by Ododo on January 27, shortly after he took the oath of office in Lokoja, the state capital.

On February 8, 2023, EFCC arraigned Bello alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat for allegedly misappropriating N3,081,804,654.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge “bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering” brought against them by EFCC.

While being cross-examined by lawyers to the defendants during the court session on Monday, Bananda, an official of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said he could not remember seeing the names of the two defendants as beneficiaries who made withdrawals from the bank statements tendered in evidence.

He said most of the withdrawals were made by Hudu Abdusalam, a cashier at the Kogi state house.

He added that most of the inflows were security funds belonging to the Kogi state government.

The witness also said none of the withdrawals in the account statements exceeded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stipulated cash withdrawal limit of N10 million.

Although Nureini Jimoh, counsel to the second defendant, suggested to the witness that the funds were meant for security purposes of Kogi state, Bananda said he did not know.

Under cross-examination by A.M Aliyu, Bello’s lawyer, the witness said one of the accounts belonged to Kogi state government house administration.

Bananda added that funds in the accounts belonged to the state government noting that there are names and signatories to the accounts.

After the cross-examination, Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecuting counsel, told the court of his intention to call another witness.

However, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter till February 6 for the continuation of the trial.