Yahaya Bello money laundering trial continues as EFCC witness details ₦46m transfers to American International School

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the prosecution presenting evidence on multi-million Naira transfers.

Also read: Yahaya Bello trial exposes massive cash diversions

Bello, facing a 19-count charge of money laundering totalling ₦80,246,470,088.88, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Thursday, Prosecution Witness 8, Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), testified pursuant to a subpoena.

Ochoche told the court that among several payments, ₦46,505,400 was transferred into the account of the American International School, including a ₦30 million payment on November 1, 2021, and another ₦16,505,400 transfer.

The subpoena and related documents were admitted as Exhibits 36 and 37 without objection.

The witness also presented account statements, compliance certificates, and account opening documents of Kunfayakun Global Limited, covering transactions from June 29, 2021, to December 31, 2024.

Ochoche explained the structure of the statement, detailing deposits, withdrawals and balances, while identifying several major transactions.

Among these were an NIP transfer of ₦700 million from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021, and an RTGS inflow of ₦400 million from Access Bank two days later.

Multiple inflows from Gadonkaya Global Concept and subsequent outflows to American School and China Payment / Abdul Bashir were also highlighted.

On February 18, 2022, Ochoche confirmed six separate NIP transfers of ₦100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited, totalling ₦600 million, alongside a further RTGS inflow of ₦325 million from the same company.

Earlier in the proceedings, Prosecution Witness 7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, continued under cross-examination.

Egoro confirmed an outflow of ₦20 million on June 22, 2022, for the supply of educational materials but could not identify the beneficiary.

He also acknowledged multiple cash withdrawals of over ₦552 million by Yakubu Siyaka between January 2019 and December 2022, explaining the bank’s obligation to report transactions that did not fit a customer’s profile or money laundering typologies.

Also read: Sujimoto: Yahaya Bello stole money, you didn’t arrest him, Portable slams EFCC

The trial, closely watched across the country, continues as the EFCC seeks to substantiate allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during Bello’s tenure.