An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), John Justice, has told an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, that monthly allocations from Kogi State local government accounts constituted the primary inflows into private company accounts under investigation in the alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud trial involving former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Justice stated this on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while testifying as the 20th prosecution witness (PW20) before Justice Maryanne Anineh in the ongoing money laundering trial.
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the witness testified that financial analysis of statements of account from bank responses revealed that entity accounts—including Forza Business Enterprise and Keyless Nature Limited—were repeatedly credited with monthly remittances originating from Kogi State local government accounts.
“Our analysis reveals that these companies were receiving inflow from Kogi State while transactions were treated as cash withdrawals,” Justice testified.
The witness further informed the court that CCTV footage obtained from commercial banks showed that large sums recorded as cash withdrawals were executed internally via cheque and deposit slips to secondary accounts without physical cash leaving bank premises.
Justice added that Bank Verification Number (BVN) traces linked to the beneficiary entities returned names including Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadat Sa’adat.
Earlier in the proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendants, J.B. Daudu (SAN), and counsel to the third defendant, Z.E. Abbas, concluded the cross-examination of the 19th prosecution witness (PW19), Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator, who was subsequently discharged.
Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to November 24, December 2, and December 8, 2026, for continuation of trial.
