NewsWatch.com.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of expertise protecting public affairs and governance.
FCT, Abuja – The sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Remigius Egu within the trial of Ali Bello, Yakubu Isiaka Adabenege, Abba Adaudu, and Iyada Sadat, narrated how funds allegedly belonging to varied native authorities areas (LGAs) of Kogi state had been allegedly diverted and laundered by personal accounts.
Per an announcement by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC), Egu testified on Tuesday, April 8, earlier than Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the federal excessive court docket, Maitama, Abuja.
NewsWatch.com.ng reviews that the EFCC is prosecuting the quartet on 18-count fees, bordering on cash laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N3 billion.
Bello, the primary defendant is nephew of the previous Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello in addition to the Chief of Workers (CoS) to Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo.
Led in proof by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank recognized paperwork marked “Displays E and E1” as having originated from Zenith Bank. He additionally reportedly confirmed {that a} letter dated March 16, 2022, addressed to the EFCC conal commander, pertained to an account belonging to a buyer, Adabenege, the second defendant, and contained transaction proof from the {bank}.
In his breakdown of the transactions, the witness advised the court docket that a number of inflows of enormous sums of cash from a number of Kogi State LGAs had been traced to the account of Korforte Idea Restricted on October 4, 2023. These he mentioned had been as follows: Ogori Magongo LGA: N14,844,640.57; Ibeji LGA: N18,629,944.51; Adavi LGA: N20,887,557.54; Kogi LGA: N17,929.59; Kabba/Bunu LGA: N18,460,569.12; Ajaokuta LGA: N22,764,334.70; Okene LGA: 20,758,710.37; Yagba West LGA: N18,234,063.61; Ofu LGA: N21,368,633.69.
He mentioned:
Earlier than the inflows, the witness disclosed that the stability within the Korforte Idea Restricted account was a mere N7,370 and that on the identical day, a transaction of N110 million was made out of the account to Adaudu one of many defendants.
He additional revealed that on October 5, 2018, extra funds had been funnelled into the identical account from extra LGAs that included: Igalamela/Odolu LGA: N19,480,651.20; Olamaboro LGA: N19,089,517.01; Dekina LGA: N23,373,201.67; Ibaji LGA: N15,653,631.39; Omala LGA: N16,876,252.03; Lokoja LGA: N20,591,073.74. He additionally disclosed {that a} switch of N21.9 million to 1 Musa Omuya was made out of the account that very same day.
Additional in his testimony, the witness disclosed that there have been extra inflows into the account on October 8, 2018, being N17,369,243.52 from Ijumu LGA and N17,471,549.57 from Bassa LGA.
On October 10, 2018, he mentioned that transactions from the account confirmed N10 million, wired to Musa Omuya and N5.1 million and N5 million, respectively, wired to Adaudu.
Earlier within the proceedings, the Fifth Prosecution Witness, PW5, Oyinkosola Akerele Shukurat, the managing director (MD) of Forza Oil and Gasoline Restricted, disclosed that the corporate, which additionally engages in overseas change transactions, obtained a cost from a buyer, named Abdul Bashir for the acquisition of U.S. {dollars}.
Moreover, she disclosed that the {dollars} that had been procured had been despatched to 4 beneficiaries, three of whom had been recognized as Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Zara Bello, for the cost of their faculty charges on the American Worldwide School (AIS), totalling $139,000.
When proven Web page 14 and 15 of “Exhibit D” sequence, the witness recognized a cost of $49,600, with $44,700 despatched to AIS on behalf of Fatima Bello. On Web page 23 of the identical exhibit, she confirmed one other $44,700 cost for Fatima Bello. The ultimate transaction, in accordance with her, was $44,700 for Na’ima Bello.
She was cross-examined by defence counsel A.M. Aliyu (SAN) and Nureini Jimoh, SAN.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until Could 5, 19, 20, and 21, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Supply: NewsWatch.com.ng
