Trial of Kogi governor’s Chief of Staff takes new turn with key testimony in money laundering case

The trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, took a significant turn on Tuesday with the testimony of Femi Remigus, a Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank Plc, who presented crucial exhibits in court as part of the ongoing N3 billion money laundering case.

Remigus, who served as the sixth prosecution witness (PW-6), was led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, a senior lawyer representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The hearing took place at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Obiora Egwuatu presiding over the case.

Bello, the nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, is facing charges related to alleged financial misconduct and the laundering of public funds.

The EFCC had arraigned Ali Bello, Abba Daudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello (who remains at large) on February 8, 2023, on 18 counts related to criminal misappropriation and money laundering of N3,081,804,654. The accused individuals, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Oyedepo informed the court that the matter was scheduled to continue. While testifying, Remigus explained how millions of naira were deposited into the bank account of Komfort Koncept Company from various local government areas (LGAs) in Kogi State on different dates in 2018.

The witness detailed how, on specific dates, substantial sums were simultaneously transferred from the aforementioned accounts into the bank accounts of some of the defendants, particularly Daudu’s.

“On October 4, 2018, there were nine credits or inflows into the account of Komfort Koncept Company,” he said.

He went on to explain that N18,629,944 came from Ibaji LGA of Kogi, N20,887,537 from Adavi LGA, N17,496,929 from Kogi LGA, and N18,460,565 from Kabba LGA. Additionally, N17 million came from Ankpa LGA.

“Yagba West Local Government credited N18,234,063, while Ofu Local Government credited N21,363,633,” the witness added.

When asked about the balance in the Komfort Koncept bank account before these deposits, Remigus stated: “N7,275.”

He further testified that on the same day as these inflows, a transfer of N105 million was made to Abba Daudu and others.

Earlier in the proceedings, the EFCC’s witness presented various banking documents, including statements of account, account opening packages, and certificates of identification for accounts associated with Komfort Koncept, Yakubu, Daudu, and others. Oyedepo applied to tender the documents as exhibits.

However, the defense team, led by Nureni Jimoh, SAN, objected to their admissibility, reserving objections for the final written address stage.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently admitted the exhibits into evidence, noting that their probative value would be assessed during the judgment.

The judge then adjourned the case to May 5, May 19, May 20, and May 21 for further trial proceedings.

It is also noteworthy that Ali Bello is facing another prosecution by the EFCC in a separate case before Justice James Omotosho.