Witness exposes how ₦3.1bn were lodged into E-traders account as Yahaya Bello demands release of passport
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over the alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Thursday, January 29, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, with detailed testimony on massive cash movements linked to Kogi State local government funds.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering involving the sum of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the resumed hearing, Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, gave an extensive breakdown of transactions traced to the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-traders International Limited, which the prosecution alleged received funds originating from Kogi State local government councils.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness confirmed that the accounts were linked to inflows from various Kogi State local governments between 2021 and 2022.
After confirming that the witness was still under oath, Pinheiro tendered Exhibit 33(8)—the statement of account of Fazab Business Enterprise—and directed Egoro’s attention to inflows recorded on May 6 and May 9, 2022.
Egoro told the court that on May 6, 2022, there were 11 separate inflows into the Fazab account, all traced to different Kogi State local government councils, including Yagba East, Yala, Ida and Okene.
On May 9, 2022, he said there were two inflows, which he confirmed originated from Ibaji and Dekina Local Government Areas
In total, the witness stated that the inflows for the two days amounted to ₦117,938,762.29.
He further testified that following the inflows, substantial cash withdrawals were made from the account by one Yakubu Siyaka A. Between May 9 and May 26, 2022, the witness said Yakubu Siyaka A. withdrew ₦116.6 million in cash.
When asked whether almost the entire sum received from the local governments was withdrawn in cash, Egoro responded in the affirmative.
By May 31, 2022, he told the court, the balance in the Fazab account had dropped to just over ₦1.2 million.
The witness also testified that similar patterns of inflows and withdrawals continued in June and July 2022, with total inflows of ₦250,511,142.99 for both months. During the same period, cash withdrawals amounted to ₦198.9 million.
Egoro said the pattern persisted between August and December 2022, during which a total of ₦2,195,273,096.27 was credited into the Fazab Business Enterprise account.
According to him, the cumulative inflow into the account from May to December 2022 stood at ₦2,563,722,942.55, all traced to Kogi State local government councils.
That is over ₦2.5 billion paid into the account of Fazab Business Enterprise from Kogi State local governments within eight months,” the witness confirmed.
On withdrawals, Egoro told the court that cash withdrawals between May and December 2022 totalled ₦582.3 million, while several transfers were also made to different individuals and companies, including Konforte Koncept Company, Abba Adaudu, Shetland Logistics Services Limited, Ejadams Essence Limited, and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise, which alone received ₦430 million through seven transfers between October and December 2022.
Turning to Exhibit 33(6), the statement of account of E-traders International Limited, Egoro identified Abdullahi Jamilu as the first signatory and provided a chronological account of massive cash deposits made into the account.
He told the court that between July 26, 2021 and April 6, 2022, cash deposits—mostly in tranches of ₦10 million—were repeatedly lodged into the account at the Lokoja Branch of Access Bank by individuals including Abba Adaudu, Jamilu Abdullahi and Haruna Mohammed.
In total, Egoro said the cash deposits into the E-traders International Limited account during the period amounted to ₦3,145,569,654.
Although the deposits were made in Lokoja, he noted that the account was opened at the Mararaba Branch of Access Bank in Nasarawa State, with the address listed as Plot P316, Abuja–Keffi Expressway, Mararaba.
At the close of proceedings, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, informed the court of an application dated January 19, 2026, seeking the release of the defendant’s international passport to enable him undertake the lesser Hajj during Ramadan.
The prosecution said it was not opposed to the request but urged that the Federal Capital Territory High Court, where Bello is standing trial in another matter, be formally notified.
Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to Friday, January 30, 2026, for the continuation of testimony by PW7 and further hearing.