Counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Joseph Daudu (SAN), has described his client’s ongoing trial over the alleged transfer of N80.2 billion in local government funds as politically motivated, insisting that the case is not about money laundering.
Daudu made the assertion on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja during proceedings in the alleged money laundering suit filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His clarification followed comments made in open court by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who had argued that the payment pattern adopted by local government areas in Kogi State amounted to “stealing in disguise.”
The defence position came as the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, admitted under oath that Bello never served as a local government chairman in any of the 21 local government areas of Kogi State.
The banker testified that the contracts under investigation were awarded by local government chairmen to various contractors for different purposes, as reflected in the bank statements of some companies tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.
While being cross-examined by Daudu, the EFCC witness further confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear in any of the local government transactions under investigation.
“The name ‘Yahaya Bello’ does not appear, either as sender or recipient of local government funds,” the defence counsel stated.
Egoro also admitted that, on the face of Exhibit 33(11), the transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited were consistent with normal banking operations.
Daudu drew the court’s attention to several payments made by the 21 local government areas into the account of Keyless Nature Limited, including entries dated 11 October 2022, and asked the witness if he knew the purpose of the transactions.
The witness responded that he did not know the purpose of the entries and could not confirm whether there was any business or contractual relationship between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited based on the records before the court.
He further stated that a customer has the right to spend money in any manner, except where fraud is established.
When asked by the defence to confirm that Access Bank was not operating under any court order and had no report of fraud in respect of the transactions in Exhibit 33(11), the witness answered in the affirmative.
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 listed other payments from various local government areas, including Ogori Mangogo, Okehi, Omala, and Yagba, which were reportedly for education materials valued at N4.4 million, medical items worth N7.5 million, sporting equipment amounting to N10.8 million, and medical consumables valued at N12.2 million.
According to the witness, other payments were made for purposes ranging from agrochemicals and farm inputs to additional medical consumables.
Daudu again asked the witness whether Bello was a local government chairman in Kogi State or held such a position in any council.
“No, the defendant wasn’t a local government chairman,” the witness replied.
Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to February 5 and 6, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
