Zenith Bank’s compliance officer, Femi Remigus, on Tuesday, tendered exhibits against Ali Bello, the chief of staff of Governor Usman Ododo, in the alleged N3 billion money laundering trial.
Mr Remigus tendered the exhibits while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The banker was the sixth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Bello, a nephew to ex-Governor Yahaya Bello.
The EFCC had, on February 8, 2023, arraigned Mr Bello, Abba Daudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and Rashida Bello (at large) on 18-count of criminal misappropriation and money laundering of N3,081,804,654.00.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts when they were read to them.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, Mr Oyedepo informed the court that the matter was slated for trial continuation.
While being led in evidence, Mr Remigus explained how millions of naira were deposited into Komfort Koncept Company’s bank account from the bank account names of different LGAs in Kogi on different dates in 2018.
The witness said that on specific dates, money was simultaneously transferred from the account, at different times, into some of the defendants’ bank accounts, especially that of Mr Daudu’s.
“On October 4, 2018, there were nine credits or inflows into the account of Komfort Koncept Company,” he said.
He told the court that N18,629,944 came from Ibaji LGA of Kogi. He said N20,887,537 came from Adavi LGA, and N17,496,929 came from Kogi LGA.
The prosecution witness also said N18,460,565 came from Kabba LGA, while 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 how much was in the Komfort Koncept’s bank account before the inflows, Mr Remigus said, “N7,275.”
According to him, on the date of the inflows, there was a transfer of N105 million to Mr Daudu and others.
Earlier in the proceedings, the EFCC’s witness identified associated bank documents, including statements of account, account opening packages, and certificates of identification for accounts of Komfort Koncept, Messrs Yakubu, Daudu, and others.
Mr Oyedepo, therefore, applied to tender the documents as exhibits, but the defence legal team, including Nureni Jimoh, objected to the admissibility of the documents and reserved objections for the final written address stage.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently admitted the exhibits in evidence, noting that the court would determine the probative value of the exhibits during the judgment.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter until May 5, May 19, May 20 and May 21 to continue the trial.
EFCC is also prosecuting Mr Bello in another case before Justice James Omotosho.
(NAN)
