Yahaya Bello Fraud Trial: EFCC Witness Links Inflows To Kogi LG Accounts

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative has informed the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that almost all funds credited to the account of an organization underneath investigation within the alleged N110.4bn fraud case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello got here from native authorities accounts within the state on a month-to-month foundation.

The witness, John Justice, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, whereas testifying because the twentieth prosecution witness (PW20) earlier than Justice Maryanne Anineh.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count cost bordering on alleged legal breach of belief and cash laundering involving N110.4bn.

Led in proof by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Justice mentioned investigators examined the inflows and outflows of a number of corporations as a part of efforts to hint the motion of funds by means of their accounts.

He mentioned the fee obtained data from banks and analysed the transactions, figuring out Keyless Ventures as one other firm that benefited from proceeds traced to the businesses underneath investigation.

According to the witness, an evaluation of the assertion of account of Forza Business Enterprise confirmed that many of the funds credited to it got here from Kogi State native authorities accounts on a month-to-month foundation.

“Most of the funds coming into the account were funds from Kogi State Local Government accounts coming on monthly basis,” he informed the courtroom.

Justice added that the investigators’ evaluation confirmed that the businesses acquired funds from Kogi State, whereas the transactions had been recorded as money withdrawals.

“Our analysis reveals that these companies were receiving inflow from Kogi State while transactions were treated as cash withdrawals,” he mentioned.

The witness mentioned the fee subsequently invited officers of Access Bank and Zenith Bank and requested closed-circuit tv (CCTV) footage due to the massive sums recorded as money withdrawals.

He informed the courtroom that the footage confirmed that the funds recorded as withdrawn weren’t bodily taken out of the banks.

Explaining the transactions, Justice mentioned a buyer may enter a financial institution, fill out a cheque withdrawal and deposit the cash into one other account, moderately than bodily gathering the money.

Earlier in his testimony, he mentioned the investigation started after the EFCC’s Procurement Fraud Section acquired intelligence in regards to the actions of native governments in Kogi State.

He mentioned the intelligence talked about a number of corporations, together with Hayzma, Bibas Energy, Forza Oil and Gas, and Keyless Ventures.

Justice mentioned investigators performed Bank Verification Number (BVN) searches and wrote to the related banks for data, after which the responses had been analysed.

When requested by Pinheiro to look at Exhibits AU, AT, AP and AO and ensure whether or not they associated to the investigation, the witness mentioned the paperwork had been linked to the case.

He recognized Exhibit AO as referring to Hayzma Business Enterprise, Exhibit AT as Keyless Nature and Exhibit AP as Forza Business Enterprise.

The witness additional informed the courtroom {that a} BVN search referring to Keyless Nature returned the title Abba Adaudu, whereas earlier searches had returned the names Yakubu Siyaka Adebenege and Iyadat Sa’adat.

Justice, who mentioned he had labored as an EFCC operative for greater than 9 years, informed the courtroom that he had acquired coaching in asset tracing, web fraud, anti-money laundering and advance-fee fraud on the EFCC Academy.

He confirmed that he had participated within the investigation involving the defendants.