Bank officials on Thursday told the court that over ₦425.8 million was withdrawn from accounts linked to the Kogi State Government for the payment of contractors and the procurement of OPVEH, as the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, continued.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), a Keystone Bank official, led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Enitan (SAN), explained transactions contained in Exhibit Z1, the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.
PW7 confirmed that the statement of account had seven columns, including narrations. Drawing his attention to page two of the document, the witness told the court that on 17 February 2021, there were several credit entries of ₦10 million each. He further confirmed that similar credit entries of ₦10 million each were recorded on 18, 21 and 22 February 2021.
Explaining the narrations, PW7 testified that on 17 February 2021, Maigari Murtala transferred ₦10 million in six tranches, totalling ₦60 million. He added that Yusuf Mubarak transferred ₦10 million on 17 February, another ₦10 million on 21 February, and a further ₦10 million on 22 February.
“In total, there were nine transfers of ₦10 million each by Maigari Murtala and one transfer of ₦10 million by Yusuf Mubarak, making ₦100 million,” the witness confirmed.
Under cross-examination by J.B. Daudu, SAN, PW7 stated that he had worked as an Executive Trainee for two years in Keystone Bank’s Marketing Department. He admitted that he was not the account officer for Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company and that he appeared in court pursuant to a subpoena. He also said he did not personally know Maigari Murtala or Yusuf Mubarak.
Further cross-examination by counsel to the 3rd defendant, Aliyu, saw the witness state that he had never encountered the name Abdulmumini Hudu, did not know when the account was opened, and was unaware of the account signatories. With no re-examination, PW7 was discharged.
The prosecution thereafter called Prosecution Witness Eight (PW8), Gabriel Ochefu, a Compliance Officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), who also appeared under subpoena with a certificate of compliance and other documents relating to Kunfayakun Global Limited, covering the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2024.
Counsel to the 3rd defendant objected to the admissibility of the documents, reserving reasons for later. The court admitted the documents and marked them as Exhibits AA (subpoena), AB1 (certificate of identification) and AB2 (account opening package).
Led in evidence by Enitan, PW8 explained that the statement of account contained seven columns, namely date, reference, description, value date, deposit, withdrawal and balance. Referring to page seven, he read an entry dated 1 November 2021, showing a debit of ₦30 million from Kunfayakun Global Limited in favour of the American International School for Abdul Bashir.
He further testified that on the same date, there were three web transfers of ₦10 million each, credited from Haruna Gana and Haruna Gaddafi, totalling ₦30 million. He also confirmed a NIBSS transfer on 1 November 2021 from Behamas Global Ventures in the sum of ₦25,959,000.
According to the witness, on 2 November 2021, the account recorded further transfers of ₦10 million, ₦10 million, and over ₦8 million to Zadakkayak Global.
After cross-examination, the prosecution called Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), A.D. Ojoma, a Compliance Officer with Sterling Bank, who also appeared under subpoena with a certificate of compliance and the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited.
While counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants raised no objection to the admissibility of the documents, counsel to the 3rd defendant objected, reserving reasons for later.
Led in evidence by Pinheiro, PW9 identified several credit entries, including a transaction of over ₦57 million on 5 March 2019. He also identified a credit entry dated 3 April 2019, described as “NAFFS Kogi State payment commission for March 2019,” from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), amounting to ₦138,492,215.91.
The witness further identified another credit entry on 3 May 2019, described as “NAFFS Kogi State 2019,” also from KIRS, in the sum of ₦136,809,102.70.
On 6 August 2019, PW9 testified that the account received a credit of ₦183,645,647.31 from KIRS for payment of contractors, while on 15 August 2019, there was a further credit entry of ₦242,250,000 for the purchase of OPVEH.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till Friday January 16, 2026 for continuation of trial.
