LunagisthubEFCC Witnesses Clear Yahaya Bello’s Name in Kogi State Government Account Scandal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has suffered a setback in its case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as three witnesses testified that he was not a beneficiary of massive withdrawals from Kogi State Government House Administration bank accounts. The witnesses, who testified on behalf of the EFCC, revealed that despite numerous withdrawals from the accounts, Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in the documents .
The witnesses, Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank, Mohammed Hassan of Keystone Bank, and Gabriel Oche of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), tendered several documents from their respective banks, detailing the transactions. However, upon reviewing the statements, they stated that Bello’s name did not feature as a signatory to the accounts or as a beneficiary of the withdrawals .
– Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank testified that he had gone through the documents and could not find Bello’s name as a beneficiary.
– Mohammed Hassan from Keystone Bank stated that he was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager and therefore did not have knowledge of the account operations.
– Gabriel Oche of FCMB admitted that several payments were made to the American International School, Abuja, through an account belonging to Kunfayakun Global Limited, but said he had no direct interpersonal relationship with any of the signatories to the account .
The testimonies of the EFCC witnesses have significant implications for the case against Yahaya Bello. The fact that Bello’s name did not appear in the documents as a beneficiary of the withdrawals raises questions about the prosecution’s case and the evidence it has presented .
The case will continue with further proceedings, and the prosecution will likely try to provide more evidence to support its claims. However, the testimonies of the EFCC witnesses have undoubtedly weakened the prosecution’s case, and it remains to be seen how the court will rule .
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