EFCC Witness Provides Detailed Account of N46.5 Million School Transfer in Bello's Money Laundering Trial
In a significant development in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, a key witness has provided detailed testimony about substantial financial transfers, including N46.5 million directed to an American educational institution. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello on nineteen counts related to alleged money laundering totaling approximately ₦80.2 billion.
Bank Compliance Officer Testifies About School Payments
Prosecution Witness Eight (PW8), Gabriel Ochoche, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), appeared before the court on Thursday, February 5, 2026, pursuant to a subpoena. Ochoche presented crucial banking documents and testified about multiple transactions involving substantial sums of money.
The witness specifically highlighted two significant payments made to American International School in Abuja. According to his testimony, a transfer of ₦30 million occurred on November 1, 2021, designated for "American International School / Abdul Bashir." Additionally, another transaction of ₦16,505,400 was directed to the same educational institution.
Complex Financial Transactions Revealed in Court
PW8 brought to court several important documents, including:
- The statement of account for Kunfayakun Global Limited (Account No: 7819613011)
- Certificate of compliance
- Account opening documents covering transactions from June 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022
These documents were admitted into evidence as Exhibit 37 without any objection from the defense. The witness explained that the statement of account contained seven columns detailing various transaction aspects: date, reference, description, value date, deposit, withdrawal, and balance.
Multiple High-Value Transactions Identified
According to the EFCC's account of the proceedings, PW8 identified several substantial transactions while reading from Exhibit 37. These included:
- An NIP transfer of ₦700 million from Keyless Nature Limited on December 15, 2021
- An RTGS inflow of ₦400 million on December 17, 2021, from Access Bank, ordered by the same company
- Multiple inflows from Gadonkaya Global Concept into Kunfayakun's account on November 2, 2021, totaling ₦28.96 million
- Six separate NIP transfers of ₦100 million each from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022, amounting to ₦600 million
The witness clarified that RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) represents a transfer executed by one bank on behalf of a customer, providing insight into the technical aspects of the financial transactions under scrutiny.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Travel Permission
This testimony comes amid continuing legal proceedings that have captured national attention. In a related development, the Federal High Court recently granted Yahaya Bello permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 lesser Hajj despite his ongoing fraud trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the temporary release of Bello's international passport for a ten-day period. Notably, the EFCC did not oppose this travel request but emphasized that all scheduled trial dates must remain unchanged, ensuring the legal process continues without interruption.
The case represents one of Nigeria's most significant anti-corruption proceedings, with the EFCC alleging complex financial activities involving billions of naira. The detailed testimony about transfers to educational institutions adds another layer to the prosecution's narrative about the alleged money laundering scheme.
As the trial progresses, financial experts and legal observers continue to monitor developments closely, particularly regarding how banking evidence and witness testimonies will influence the court's ultimate determination in this high-profile case involving a former state governor.
