The trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello over an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering case resumed on Thursday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how ₦46.5 million was transferred to the American International School (AIS).
Bello is facing a 19-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering totaling ₦80,246,470,088.88.
FCMB Witness Testifies
Testifying as Prosecution Witness 8 (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that the payments were made from the account of Kunfayakun Global Limited.
He said transfers identified include:
- ₦30 million on November 1, 2021, to American International School/Abdul Bashir
- ₦16,505,400 to American International School
Court Admits Key Documents
Ochoche appeared in court following a subpoena, which was admitted as Exhibit 36 without objection from the defence.
He also confirmed that he tendered:
- Statement of account
- Certificate of compliance
- Account-opening documents
for Kunfayakun Global Limited (Account No: 7819613011).
These documents were admitted as Exhibit 37.
Massive Inflows Highlighted
While reading from the account statement, the witness pointed out major inflows including:
- ₦700 million via NIP transfer from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021
- ₦400 million RTGS inflow on December 17, 2021, from Access Bank by order of the same company
He explained that RTGS is a transfer carried out by one bank on behalf of a customer.
More Transactions Linked to Education Payments
PW8 also told the court that on November 2, 2021, Kunfayakun Global Limited received inflows from Gadonkaya Global Concept:
- ₦10 million
- ₦10 million
- ₦8.96 million
and recorded an outflow of ₦34,506,600 to American School and China Payment/Abdul Bashir.
₦600m Paid in Six Transfers
Ochoche further revealed that on February 18, 2022, there were six separate transfers of ₦100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited, totaling ₦600 million.
He also identified an additional inflow of:
- ₦325 million RTGS transfer on February 21, 2022, with value date February 18, 2022, ordered by Ejadams through Access Bank.
Earlier Witness Spoke on N552m Cash Withdrawals
The court also heard earlier from Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who testified that:
- An entry of ₦20 million on June 22, 2022, was for the supply of educational materials, not cash withdrawal.
- A customer named Yakubu Siyaka made multiple cash withdrawals totaling over ₦552 million between 2019 and 2022.
Trial Continues
The case continues before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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