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Abuja – The Federal Excessive Court docket sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, heard damning revelations on how over N3 billion allegedly belonging to numerous Native Authorities Areas (LGAs) in Kogi State was siphoned and laundered by means of personal financial institution accounts.
The main points emerged throughout the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, nephew to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and present Chief of Workers to Governor Usman Ododo, together with Yakubu Isiaka Adabenege, Abba Adaudu, and Iyada Sadat. The quartet is being prosecuted by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) on an 18-count cost bordering on cash laundering and misappropriation of public funds.
In the course of the proceedings, Remigius Egu, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Financial institution, testified because the sixth prosecution witness (PW6). He advised the courtroom how big sums have been funneled from LGA accounts in Kogi State into a non-public account belonging to Korforte Idea Restricted.
Led in proof by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Egu recognized financial institution paperwork marked Displays E and E1 as having originated from Zenith Financial institution and addressed to the EFCC Zonal Command on March 16, 2022, detailing transactions involving one of many defendants, Yakubu Isiaka Adabenege.
In keeping with the witness, a number of suspicious inflows have been traced to the Korforte account on October 4, 2023, together with:
Ogori Magongo LGA: N14,844,640.57
Ibeji LGA: N18,629,944.51
Adavi LGA: N20,887,557.54
Kogi LGA: N17,929.59
Kabba/Bunu LGA: N18,460,569.12
Ajaokuta LGA: N22,764,334.70
Okene LGA: N20,758,710.37
Yagba West LGA: N18,234,063.61
Ofu LGA: N21,368,633.69
“My Lord, all of the inflows have been obtained on October 4, 2023,” Egu testified.
He famous that the account beforehand had a steadiness of N7,370, however instantly after the inflows, a N110 million switch was created from the account to one of many defendants, Abba Adaudu.
On October 5, 2018, extra funds have been paid into the identical account from different LGAs:
Igalamela/Odolu: N19,480,651.20
Olamaboro: N19,089,517.01
Dekina: N23,373,201.67
Ibaji: N15,653,631.39
Omala: N16,876,252.03
Lokoja: N20,591,073.74
A N21.9 million switch was then made to Musa Omuya, with further transfers together with N10 million to Omuya and N5.1 million and N5 million to Adaudu on October 10, 2018.
Earlier, the fifth prosecution witness, Oyinkosola Akerele Shukurat, Managing Director of Forza Oil and Fuel Restricted, testified that her firm obtained funds from one Abdul Bashir to buy U.S. {dollars}, which have been later transferred for varsity charges.
She confirmed that the sum of $139,000 was despatched to the American Worldwide Faculty (AIS) on behalf of Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Zara Bello, all allegedly linked to the previous governor’s household.
Whereas being proven Pages 14 and 15 of Exhibit D, Shukurat recognized a $49,600 transaction, with $44,700 particularly for Fatima Bello. Web page 23 revealed one other $44,700 for a similar beneficiary, and a 3rd fee of $44,700 was made for Na’ima Bello.
Throughout cross-examination, defence counsel A.M. Aliyu, SAN, and Nureini Jimoh, SAN, posed inquiries to each witnesses.
In a strong assertion that underscores the gravity of the allegations, Remigius Egu advised the courtroom:
“My Lord, all of the inflows have been obtained on October 4, 2023. Earlier than that date, the account had a steadiness of simply N7,370. However on that very same day, N110 million was transferred to one of many defendants, Adaudu. Subsequent days confirmed comparable patterns with extra LGAs transferring funds, adopted by giant withdrawals to people like Musa Omuya and others.”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the trial to Could 5, 19, 20, and 21, 2025, for continuation of listening to.
The revelations have despatched shockwaves throughout the political and civic panorama of Kogi State, elevating critical questions in regards to the dealing with of native authorities funds below the earlier administration.
The assertion from EFCC’s official Fb web page reads:
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