JUST IN: EFCC tenders 13 reveals in trial of ex-Kogi governor Yahaya Bello
The {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) has tendered 13 reveals within the ongoing trial of former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello earlier than the FCT Excessive Court docket.
Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Entry {Bank} Plc and prosecution witness 10 (PW10), introduced the paperwork throughout proceedings, together with account opening packages and statements of account linked to the Kogi state authorities home administration and contractors linked to the transactions underneath investigation.
Counsel to the second and third defendants objected to the admissibility of the paperwork, arguing that the accompanying certificates of identification didn’t adjust to the Proof Act.
The defence mentioned it could deal with the problem totally in its last written deal with.
Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to the EFCC, described the objection as untimely and speculative, including that the prosecution would reply on the acceptable stage.
The court docket admitted the paperwork provisionally, stating that their evidential weight can be decided after arguments on the objections.
Throughout examination-in-chief, Egoro outlined inflows and outflows from the federal government home administration account and likewise testified on {bank} data of Fazab Enterprise Enterprise overlaying transactions between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2024.
Underneath cross-examination by Paul Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that Fazab Enterprise Enterprise had contractual relationships with a number of native authorities areas and that funds have been linked to the procurement of instructional supplies, medical consumables, agricultural inputs and reduction provides.
He acknowledged that he was not the account relationship supervisor for the native authorities or contractor accounts and confirmed that Bello didn’t function chairman of any native authorities throughout the interval underneath evaluate.
Egoro additionally testified on transactions involving Westwood Motors Restricted, stating that a number of deposits made by native governments have been described as mortgage repayments.
He didn’t hyperlink Bello on to any of the transactions as a beneficiary or signatory authorising the funds.
The trial was adjourned to March 10, 11 and 12 for continuation of listening to.