Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has described the ongoing trial over the alleged transfer of ₦80.2 billion in local government funds as politically motivated, insisting that the case does not amount to money laundering.
Daudu made the assertion on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja during proceedings in the case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His comments followed a submission by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who had told the court that the mode of payments by local governments in Kogi State amounted to “stealing in disguise.”
During the hearing, the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, testified that Bello never served as a local government chairman in any of Kogi State’s 21 local government areas.
Under cross-examination, the witness admitted that Bello’s name did not appear as either sender or beneficiary in any of the local government transactions being investigated. He also confirmed that contracts referenced in the exhibits were awarded by local government chairmen to contractors, not by the former governor.
Egoro further acknowledged that entries contained in Exhibit 33(11), detailing transactions between local governments and Keyless Nature Limited, were consistent with normal banking transactions. He said he did not know the purpose of several payments listed, nor whether there was any contractual relationship between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited.
The witness also confirmed that Access Bank was not acting under any court order concerning the transactions and had no report of fraud related to them.
On specific payments to Fayzade Business Enterprise, Egoro testified that inflows from several local governments were clearly labelled for purposes such as the supply of reading materials, education materials, medical items, sporting equipment, agrochemicals, farm inputs and medical consumables, with amounts ranging from millions of naira.
When asked directly whether Yahaya Bello was a local government chairman, the witness replied in the negative.
Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of the trial.