Hon. Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, yesterday, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on an alleged N110 billion money laundering case till March 10, for continuation of cross-examination.
At the resumed sitting, the 10th prosecution witness and Compliance Officer with Access Bank Plc, Olomotane Egoro, testified that cash withdrawals linked to individuals in his evidence were carried out in accordance with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines
Egoro, who has worked with the financial institution since May 2023, confirmed that Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, previously reported to have withdrawn funds from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account, was one of the account’s signatories.
He confirmed that one Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, who was earlier said to have made withdrawals from the same account, was one of the signatories.
He added, on cross-examination, that, from the details in the account opening package, Olanrewaju was a civil servant and Director of Accounts in the Kogi State Government Administration.
The witness said, being an Access Bank official, he was not privy to the workings of the Kogi Government House Account, and could not state what the funds that were withdrawn were meant for, except for those that were detailed in the transactions.
He gave a similar testimony as the one before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The banker admitted that the former governor was neither a local government chairman nor was his name linked to any of the transactions presented before the court.
He said this in relation to the transactions between the various Local Government Areas in Kogi and Fazab Business Enterprise, among others.
The purposes of other payments ranged from sporting equipment to agrochemicals, farm inputs and also medical consumables, according to the witness.
Egoro specifically said a N10.6 million lodgement from Ibaji local government statutory revenue was for agrochemicals, while the N7.3 million from Mopa Muro Local Council was for the supply of relief materials.
The court had, during the examination-in-chief, admitted in evidence the subpoena signed by the Managing Director of Access Bank.
The subpoena contains the statements of account of the Kogi State Government House Administration from January 2016 to January 2024.
It also contains the statements of accounts of Westwood Motors Limited, Fozad Oil and Gas Limited, Bespoque Global Concept Limited, E-Traders International Limited, and Keyless Nature Limited, among others.
Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Z.E. Abbas, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the certificate of identification did not comply with the Evidence Act.
He said he would provide full reasons during his final written address.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), described the objection as a fishing expedition, adding that he would give his reason during his final written address.
Justice Anenih, however, admitted the documents, noting that admissibility in evidence would be determined subsequently, when necessary, if the objection could be justifiably defended.
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