Counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Joseph Daudu (SAN), on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the ongoing case against his client was politically motivated and not rooted in money laundering allegations.
Daudu made the submission during proceedings in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the former governor, faulting claims by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), that the pattern of payments by local government areas in Kogi State amounted to “stealing in disguise.”
The defence’s position came as the seventh prosecution witness, an Access Bank compliance officer, Olomotane Egoro, told the court that Bello neither served as a local government chairman nor featured in any of the transactions being probed.
Egoro explained that the payments under scrutiny were made by local government chairmen to contractors for various purposes, as reflected in bank records tendered and admitted as exhibits before the court.
Under cross-examination by Daudu, the witness stated that Bello’s name did not appear in any of the transactions, either as a sender or recipient of funds from the local governments.
He further told the court that entries contained in Exhibit 33(11), detailing transactions between the councils and Keyless Nature Limited, were consistent with regular banking activities, adding that he could not determine the purpose of some of the payments or confirm any contractual relationship from the documents alone.
Egoro also agreed that, in the absence of a court order or report of fraud, a customer was entitled to spend funds in an account as they deemed fit.
Giving further details, the witness said a payment made on May 6, 2022, into Fayzade Business Enterprise was traced to Okene Local Government Area for the supply of reading materials, while other inflows from Ogorimagongo, Okehi, Omala and Yagba local governments were earmarked for education materials, medical items, sporting equipment and medical consumables, among others.
When asked whether Bello was a local government chairman in Kogi State, the witness responded in the negative.
Justice Emeka Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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