Yahaya Bello’s counsel alleges political motive behind EFCC trial
Counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Joseph Daudu (SAN), on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the ongoing case against his client was politically motivated rather than a genuine money laundering prosecution.
Daudu made the submission during the continuation of Bello’s trial, instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following claims by the prosecution that payments from local governments amounted to “stealing by disguise.”
The defence argument came as the seventh prosecution witness, Access Bank compliance officer Olomotane Egoro, testified that Bello was neither a local government chairman nor directly involved in the transactions under scrutiny.
Under cross-examination, Egoro confirmed that contracts cited in the case were awarded by local government chairmen and that Bello’s name did not appear as a sender or beneficiary in the bank records tendered before the court.
He also told the court that entries involving payments to Keyless Nature Limited appeared to be regular banking transactions, and that the bank had no fraud report or court order relating to the accounts.
Egoro further disclosed that payments made to Fayzade Business Enterprise from various local governments were described as supplies for educational materials, medical items, sporting equipment, agrochemicals, and farm inputs.
When asked if Bello held any local government position at the time, the witness replied in the negative.
Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the case to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of trial.
