A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, will not be dealing with a real cash laundering trial however a politically pushed case, his lawyer has advised the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Daudu, made this declare on Wednesday whereas addressing Justice Emeka Nwite throughout proceedings within the case introduced by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC).
Daudu spoke whereas cross-examining the EFCC’s seventh witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer from Entry {Bank} Plc, who was summoned to testify on transactions linked to the alleged offence.
The defence counsel argued that paperwork introduced by the prosecution failed to attach Bello to any suspicious {financial} dealings. In response to him, the information confirmed transactions carried out by native authorities authorities and personal firms, not by the previous governor.
Throughout questioning, Egoro confirmed that Bello by no means served as an area authorities chairman in Kogi State. He additionally advised the court docket that the contracts below investigation have been awarded by numerous native authorities chairmen.
The witness admitted that Bello’s identify didn’t seem anyplace in Exhibit 33, the set of paperwork tendered by the prosecution.
He stated the identify “Yahaya Bello” didn’t seem, both as sender or recipient.
Egoro additional advised the court docket that the entries within the transactions between the native governments and an organization recognized as Keyless Nature Restricted seemed to be regular banking actions.
When requested about a number of funds made on October 11, 2022, from the 21 native authorities areas into the corporate’s account, the witness stated he didn’t know the aim of the transactions.
“No, my lord,” he replied when questioned on whether or not he knew what the funds have been meant for.
He additionally admitted that he couldn’t inform if there was any enterprise or contractual relationship between the native governments and Keyless Nature Restricted.
The {bank} officer defined that clients have been free to spend their cash as they wished except there was proof of fraud.
When requested if Entry {Bank} was below any court docket order or had reported fraud concerning the transactions in Exhibit 33(11), Egoro responded, “That’s right, my lord,” confirming that no such report existed.
On one other set of funds involving Fayzade Enterprise Enterprise, the witness recognized inflows from totally different native authorities areas and acknowledged the needs written within the paperwork.
He stated a fee from Okene Native Authorities Space on Could 6, 2022, was meant for the provision of studying supplies.
Different funds, he defined, have been for training supplies from Ogorimagongo Native Authorities Space valued at N4.4 million, medical objects from Okehi value N7.5 million, sporting tools from Omala amounting to N10.8 million, and medical consumables from Yagba Native Authorities Space valued at N12.2 million.
Egoro additionally listed agrochemicals, farm inputs, and extra medical consumables as functions for different transactions.
Daudu then requested whether or not Bello was an area authorities chairman in any a part of Kogi State.
The witness answered, “No, the defendant wasn’t an area authorities chairman.”
At that time, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, briefly intervened, suggesting that cash laundering instances usually contain transactions that seem regular on the floor.
“My lord, there’s this informal assertion I learnt from my chief (Daudu) that this can be a case of cash laundering the place funds could be made in disguise,” he stated.
Daudu instantly responded, insisting that the proof earlier than the court docket didn’t help such a declare.
“Not all informal statements are made to go with out reply, my lord. Very quickly, we are going to know that this isn’t a cash laundering trial however a political trial,” he stated.
The court docket adjourned after the exchanges, with proceedings anticipated to proceed at a later date.