The trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion money laundering scheme resumed on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with fresh testimony from a prosecution witness detailing payments made to the American International School (AIS), Abuja.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness 8 (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that N46.5 million was transferred from the account of Kunfayakun Global Limited to AIS. He specified that N30 million was paid on November 1, 2021, to “American International School/Abdul Bashir,” while another N16,505,400 was also transferred to the school.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Olukayode Enitan, SAN, Ochoche appeared in court pursuant to a subpoena, admitted as Exhibit 36 without objection. He also tendered the statement of account, certificate of compliance, and account-opening documents for Kunfayakun Global Limited (Account No: 7819613011), covering transactions between June 2021 and December 31, 2024. These were admitted as Exhibit 37.
The witness identified major inflows into the account, including N700 million from Keyless Nature Limited via NIP transfer on December 15, 2021, and N400 million through RTGS on December 17, 2021. He also confirmed six NIP transfers of N100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited in February 2022, totalling N600 million, alongside an RTGS inflow of N325 million.
Earlier, Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Access Bank compliance officer Olomotane Egoro, testified that a N20 million transaction in June 2022 was for educational materials, not a cash withdrawal. The case continues before Justice Emeka Nwite.
