The trial of the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over alleged N80.2 billion fraud resumed on Thursday before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, where a prosecution witness, Mrs Abimbola Williams, said the name of the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, did not feature in any of the account opening packages for the Kogi Government House Bank account with the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
The witness, a compliance officer with UBA, also admitted before the court that Bello’s name did not feature in all the withdrawals made from the account number 1003889575 managed by UBA for the Kogi Government House Administration while Yahaya Bello was the governor.
Testifying in the money laundering charges brought against the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the banker, who was subpoenaed by the court, tendered the account opening packages for Government House Administration under the governorship of Bello.
The subpoena, according to the prosecution, requested the production of the statement of account of one Maselina Njoku from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.
Led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness also tendered the account statements operated while Bello held sway as the governor of Kogi State.
She read out a series of withdrawals through cheques from the account of the Government House operations. She specifically mentioned one Abdulsalami Hudu as the person handling fund withdrawals on behalf of the Kogi State Government House.
However, under cross-examination by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the lead counsel to Yahaya Bello, the UBA Compliance Officer said Bello’s name did not feature in virtually all transactions in respect of the bank account.
She also admitted that she was not the accounts officer of the Kogi Government House account and that the account is domiciled in Lokoja, Kogi State, and not in Area 3, Abuja, where she works.
The witness confirmed a total of ten withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu, in the sum of N10 million each, on 12 December 2018, and that the withdrawals were done with cheques and presented across the counter.
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness said that as a compliance officer, her duty involves protecting the integrity of the bank from legal penalty, reputational damage, and financial losses.
The witness said, for Alhaji Yakubu Ismail, who was Permanent Secretary, “We only have his picture on this form” and that the former governor’s name did not appear anywhere in both the account opening documents and the statement of account from E1 to E72 as well as in Exhibit 2P1 – 3P62.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, while re-examining the witness, asked her if she was familiar with the signature on the document, and the witness said she signed on behalf of one Edward Bananga.
At this point, the defendant’s counsel, who objected and moved to cross-examine the witness, said, “My Lord, the witness initially disowned the signature, but under re-examination, the prosecution led her to admit it. Therefore, I have the right to challenge that admission and prove that her claim regarding the signature is incorrect.
“Cross-examination is meant to prove the accuracy or veracity of the witness. I am entitled to disprove what she said. This is in the interest of justice,” Daudu added and then asked the witness to read the document.
Reading from the document, she said, “I, Edward Bananga, hereby certify and confirm that……”
“I put it to you that you are not Edward Bananga,” the defendant’s counsel said, and the witness answered in the affirmative that she is not Edward Bananga.
Also during Thursday’s trial, the prosecution tendered some documents through another witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, from the American International School (AIS), Abuja.
The exhibits tendered included the school’s statements of account, admission letters of the children of the former governor, and payment receipts, after which the witness confirmed the different classes the children were admitted into.
Exhibit 12P, which is a contractual agreement for post-paid school fees for the children, was also tendered through the witness by the prosecution, who presented a letter from the EFCC to AIS, Abuja, through the Registrar. It was marked Exhibit 18, and it is an account provided by the EFCC for a refund.
The court, thereafter, adjourned till 7 March at 10 am for the continuation of the trial.
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