ABUJA, Nigeria — A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, recounted how funds from various Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi State were allegedly diverted and laundered through private accounts.
The witness, Remigius Egu, a compliance officer at Zenith Bank, testified in the case against Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo.
Bello is facing prosecution alongside Yakubu Adabenege, Abba Adaudu, and Iyada Sadat on 18 charges, including money laundering and the misappropriation of public funds amounting to over N3 billion.
During the court session, Egu identified key documents detailing transactions linked to the second defendant, Adabenege.
He explained that large sums from several Kogi State LGAs were traced to the account of Korforte Concept Limited on October 4, 2023.
The EFCC’s statement highlights the specific amounts traced to the account from various LGAs, including Ogori Magongo LGA (N14,844,640.57), Ibeji LGA (N18,629,944.51), Adavi LGA (N20,887,557.54), and several others.
According to the witness, all of these inflows occurred on October 4, 2023.
Before these inflows, Egu testified that the balance in the Korforte Concept Limited account stood at just N7,370.
However, on the same day, a transaction of N110 million was transferred from the account to Adaudu, one of the defendants.
Egu further explained that more funds were funnelled into the same account on October 5, 2018, from additional LGAs.
These included Igalamela/Odolu LGA (N19,480,651.20), Olamaboro LGA (N19,089,517.01), Dekina LGA (N23,373,201.67), and Ibaji LGA (N15,653,631.39).
On that same day, a transfer of N21.9 million was made to Musa Omuya from the account.
The witness also provided further details of transactions in the Korforte Concept Limited account, including additional inflows on October 8, 2018, and transfers made to Musa Omuya and Adaudu.
In earlier proceedings, the fifth prosecution witness, Oyinkosola Akerele, the managing director of Forza Oil and Gas Limited, testified that the company had received payments for foreign exchange transactions from a customer, Abdul Bashir.
Akerele said that the procured dollars were transferred to four beneficiaries, including three children of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State.
These transfers, amounting to $139,000, were identified as payments for their school fees at the American International School (AIS).
The case was adjourned by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who set new dates for the continuation of the trial on May 5, 19, 20, and 21, 2025.
