The 17th prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case filed against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others, said on Wednesday that the former governor was not involved in any of the property transactions before the court.
The witness, Shehu Bello Bala, told the court, while being cross-examined by the Defendant’s Counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, that the 2nd defendant.Umar Shuaib Oricha did not also participate in any of the transactions.
He noted that one Dr Farouk Bello served as the agent during the purchase transactions
On cross-examination, he, however, noted that he was aware that the title documents – deed of assignment and Power of Attorney were returned to Efab Estate by Farouk Bello.
The witness had earlier said he was not in anyway related to Ali Bello and Farouk Bello, whom he had mentioned in his examination-in-chief.
He also confirmed that he was not from Kogi State, implying that he was not also related to the former governor.
The witness, a commodity trader, who said he was from Katsina State, noted that he met Ali Bello about 14 years ago.
“So you have known him long enough to know the kind of businesses he is into,” the Defendant’s Counsel said.
“I knew Ali Bello in the course of my business which is commodity trading. We have done quite a number of businesses like buying grains from the North .
“We buy ginger and other products from the North and sell it. This was around 2012 to 2013. I also know that he is into real estate,” the witness responded.
The Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, A.M. Aliyu, asked the witness if he knew the 3rd defendant, he said no, noting that he did not also partake in the transactions.
He told the court that at the time the title documents were returned to Efab Estate, Farouk Bello, who was his father’s friend, had passed on.
“Would I be correct to say that it was the children who said they wanted to collect the money on the property after the death of Dr Farouk Bello?” the Defendant’s Counsel asked.
“Someone came to me with documents concerning the property that they wanted to sell the property but I cannot confirm if he was Farouk Bello’s son,” the witness responded.
He confirmed that he took the documents back to the chairman of Efab Estate.
“That was when we realised that the property was being investigated,” he said.
He said the second property that was not marked by the EFCC was the one bought by Farouk.
“Will I be correct to say that Ali Bello inherited that property from his mother?” The Defendant’s Counsel asked.
The prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, interjected that the evidence the witness gave was not about inheritance.
But the Defendant’s Counsel said he was entitled to lay foundation for his defence and that he could ask the witness within his capacity.
Another witness, Philip Kuma, a Consultant with Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue told the Court that the money paid into his company account was a legitimate commission he was entitled to from services rendered to the revenue generating board.
Kuma who is the 18th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing alleged money laundering case filed against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, insisted on Wednesday that the commission that came into the account was for his company.
Kuma, an IT expert and owner of Bespoke Business Solutions and Bespoke Global Concept, said his company was engaged as lead consultant by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
While being cross-examined by Paul Daudu SAN, the witness said he could not recall whether he was the one who signed an engagement agreement with KIRS on behalf of his company.
He identified the company’s shareholders as
Defendant- who are the other shareholders as Margaret Kuma and
Augustine Kuma for Bespoke s
Solutions Services Limited.
He also admitted that he had no board resolutions to deviate from the agreement to pay those he described as stakeholders part of the commission.
He added that there was no requirement to pay any stakeholders in the agreement reached with KIRS.
Earlier, during his examination-in-chief, when asked if his company provided the services free of charge, he said no.
“We were to receive 15 per cent commission on the IGR above the threshold of N350m,” he responded.
The witness, an IT expert, added that, along the line, the commission was reviewed downward from 15 per cent to five per cent.
“This was because during our engagement, the IGR grew and at the same time our operating third party was lowered because of the automation,” he added.
According to the witness, Yakubu Oseni was the chairman of the revenue service when his company was engaged.
He also confirmed that Jamiu Salawu was not a shareholder in any of the companies he mentioned earlier, adding that an agreement to pay stakeholders some percentage, which he mentioned earlier, was not anywhere in form of MoU.
“Our work is limited to automation of the tax administration processes, carrying out tax duties, tax audits, tax paying entities within the state. Also we engaged in advisory on tax policy and strategy,” he said.
The statements of account of Bespoke Business Solutions with Sterling Bank and Zenith Bank were presented to the witness for identification.
He noted that when Aliu Nda Salami became the chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services, his company still continued its engagement with KIRS.
He earlier said 50 per cent of the five per cent commission they generated was given to stakeholders without mentioning specific names.
This, he later said was not in the agreement.
When asked if he knew one Jamiu Salawu, he said he was the signatory nominated by Senator Yakubu Oseni for the Zenith Bank project account of the company.
He was referred to inflows from Kogi State and identified one N4.8m on 10th January, 2018 and N74.3m on 6th December, 2016.
“Following that inflow, confirm the report that there was a withdrawal by Jamiu Salawu,” Pinheiro SAN said.
“Yes,” the witness responded.
He also identified an inflow of N202.3m on 21st, April 2017 and also confirmed that there were cheque withdrawals by one Yusuf Abdulmumuni.
After a brief evidence by one more witness, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the case to October 14, 15, 16, 27 and 28 for continuation of hearing.
