Yahaya Bello Trial: EFCC Witness Details ₦46.5m Transfer to American School
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, resumed on Thursday, February 5, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with fresh testimony on alleged financial transactions linked to the case.
Bello is standing trial on a 19-count charge of money laundering involving ₦80.24 billion, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution called its eighth witness, Gabriel Ochoche (PW8), a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), who testified pursuant to a subpoena. The subpoena was tendered by prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, and admitted in evidence as Exhibit 36 without objection from the defence.
PW8 told the court that a total sum of ₦46,505,000 was transferred into the account of the American International School. He explained that the payments included a ₦30 million transfer on November 1, 2021, and another ₦16,505,400 paid to the same school.
The witness further confirmed that he was in court with the statement of account, certificate of compliance and account opening documents of Kunfayakun Global Limited, Account No. 7819613011, covering transactions between June 2021 and August 2022. The documents were admitted as Exhibit 37.
Reading from the exhibit, PW8 identified major inflows into the account, including a ₦700 million NIP transfer from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021, and an RTGS inflow of ₦400 million two days later from Access Bank on the order of the same company.
He also confirmed multiple inflows on November 2, 2021, from Gadonkaya Global Concept, as well as an outflow of ₦34.5 million to American School and China Payment/Abdul Bashir. According to him, six separate NIP transfers of ₦100 million each, totaling ₦600 million, were received from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022.
Earlier, Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank, continued his testimony under cross-examination. He confirmed several cash withdrawals totaling over ₦552 million within the period under review and disclosed that the bank filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Justice Nwite upheld an objection against questioning the contents of the STR, ruling that counsel could not interrogate a document not before the court.
At the close of proceedings, Justice Nwite discharged PW7 and adjourned the matter to March 3 and March 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.
