.As Yahaya Bello seeks permission to embark on lesser hajj
Two major corruption trials involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, took centre stage at the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
This was as prosecution witnesses detailed large-scale cash movements, suspicious withdrawals and alleged use of forged documents.
In the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, told the court how over N2.5 billion from Kogi State local government councils was paid into a private company’s account within eight months.
Bello is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Egoro testified that between May and December 2022, a total of N2,563,722,942.55 was paid into the account of Fazab Business Enterprise from various Kogi local government councils.
He explained that on May 6, 2022 alone, eleven inflows amounting to N103.3 million came from local governments including Yagba East, Yala, Ida and Okene while on May 9, 2022, additional inflows from Ibaji and Dekina LGAs brought the total for that month to N117.9 million.
According to the witness, almost the entire amount was subsequently withdrawn in cash by one Yakubu Siyaka A., who made cash withdrawals totalling N116.6 million within the same month.
Egoro further told the court that similar patterns continued in June and July 2022, with inflows of N250.5 million, out of which about N198.9 million was withdrawn in cash.
From August to December 2022, additional inflows from local governments amounted to N2.19 billion, while total cash withdrawals across the eight-month period stood at N582.3 million.
Beyond cash withdrawals, Egoro said there were multiple transfers to companies and individuals, including payments to Konforte Koncept Company, Abba Adaudu, Shetland Logistics Services Limited, Ejadams Essence Limited and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise, which alone received N430 million in seven transfers.
The witness also testified on the account of E-traders International Limited, stating that between July 26, 2021 and April 6, 2022, a total of N3.145 billion was deposited in cash into the company’s account.
Egoro revealed that the cash deposits were made in multiple tranches, often not exceeding N10 million per transaction, by individuals including Abba Adaudu, Jamilu Abdullahi and Haruna Mohammed.
He said all deposits were made at the Lokoja Branch of Access Bank, even though the account was opened in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
At the close of proceedings, Bello’s counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, applied for the release of the defendant’s international passport to enable him travel for the lesser Hajj during Ramadan.
The prosecution did not oppose the request but urged the court to notify another court where Bello is facing a separate trial.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 30, 2026, for continuation of testimony.
In a related development, at the FCT High Court, Abuja, the Eleventh Prosecution Witness (PW11), Bashirudden Muhammed Maishanu, an Assistant Director at the CBN, narrated how $6.23 million was allegedly withdrawn from the Garki Branch of the CBN using forged documents.
Maishanu, who testified before Justice Hamza Muazu in the trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the money was withdrawn on February 8, 2023, purportedly for election observers and logistics.
He told the court that he was approached by one Alhaji Ahmed, who claimed he was acting on presidential approval and had been directed by Emefiele’s former personal assistant.
According to the witness, after being shown what he believed was government approval, his friend went with Ahmed to the Garki Branch of the CBN and withdrew the $6.23 million in cash.
He further disclosed that Ahmed left with $2.5 million, while the remaining cash was left with him and two others.
Maishanu told the court that he later discovered the documents used for the withdrawal were forged and admitted that he accepted personal responsibility after being shown the fake approvals.
During cross-examination, he maintained that the withdrawal could not have passed through the CBN’s system without internal documentation but insisted that the process was fraudulent.
The court adjourned the Emefiele trial to January 30, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
