YAHAYA BELLO’S TRIAL OVER N80.2BN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS ‘POLITICAL’ – COUNSEL
Read Time:1 Minute, 38 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has described the ongoing trial over alleged N80.2 billion local government funds transfers as political, insisting it is not a case of money laundering.
Daudu made the clarification during proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the alleged money laundering case instituted against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The statement came after EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), argued in court that the disputed payments by Kogi State local governments amounted to “stealing in disguise.”
The seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a Compliance Officer with Access Bank, testified that Bello did not serve as chairman of any local government in Kogi State. He added that contracts related to the funds were awarded by local government chairmen to contractors, as reflected in bank records admitted as court exhibits.
Under cross-examination by Daudu, the witness confirmed that the name “Yahaya Bello” did not appear as either sender or recipient in any of the local government transactions under investigation. He also admitted that entries in Exhibit 33(11), which documented transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited, were consistent with normal banking activity.
Daudu further questioned the witness on the purpose of payments from local governments to various companies, including Fayzade Business Enterprise, highlighting that transactions were for legitimate purposes such as educational materials, medical items, sporting equipment, agrochemicals, and farm inputs. The witness confirmed that the bank had no court order regarding the transactions and no reports of fraud.
The lawyer emphasized that the defendant had no role as a local government chairman, and the witness could not dispute this.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation.
This latest session underscores the defence’s position that the case against Bello is politically motivated, while the EFCC maintains its allegation of misappropriation of local government funds.
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