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| Access Bank. |
The trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7).
Bello is
being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a
19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of
₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the
resumed proceedings on Wednesday, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN,
informed the court that the matter was slated for the cross-examination of PW7,
adding that the prosecution had three witnesses available.
PW7,
Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, was led to the
witness dock and affirmed that he remained under oath.
During
cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed
that he testified pursuant to a subpoena and tendered Exhibits 32, 33(1–11),
and 34. He also confirmed that he had previously testified before another
Federal High Court in relation to the same exhibits but could not recall the
specific defendants or whether he testified as PW2.
While the
defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from the
other court, Pinheiro, noted that the prosecution had no objection to the
documents but raised a procedural issue regarding the absence of receipts
evidencing payment for the CTCs. He also maintained that the witness had been
consistent in his testimony.
Meanwhile,
Justice Nwite held that the documents could only be admitted upon the
presentation of the required receipts, agreeing with the prosecution. The
defence subsequently informed the court that efforts were ongoing to retrieve
the receipts.
Further
cross-examination centred on bank transactions involving Keyless Nature
Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu. The witness confirmed a counter cheque
payment at the Otukpo Branch of Access Bank and transfers, including ₦200,000
and ₦8 million, made in favour of Abba Adaudu.
On local
government inflows, the witness testified that payments were made for specific
purposes, including: ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply
of medical items; ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022,
for the supply of sporting materials; and ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local
Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.
He also
stated that entries in Exhibit 33(11) were consistent with normal banking
transactions and that the account opening package of Fazab Oil was not
immediately available but could be retrieved.
Justice
Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the
continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.
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