The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, and Dauda Sulaiman, who are facing amended money-laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which allege misappropriation of state funds and money laundering.
At the hearing, an Access Bank representative, Olom Otane Egoro, testified as a witness for the EFCC, detailing how millions of naira were deposited into Kogi State’s bank account and withdrawn in cash on the same day in 2019. The withdrawals, which occurred multiple times on the same day, were typically N10 million each.
The bank worker’s testimony was based on Access Bank statements for the Kogi State Government House account between 2019 and 2021. The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), requested that the documents be admitted as exhibits in evidence.
The defense counsels, Abubakar Aliyu (SAN) and Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), agreed to delay their objections to the documents until their final written addresses. The case has been adjourned until June 19 and 20 for continuation of the hearing, as ruled by Justice Omotosho.
The testimony of the Access Bank representative in the ongoing case against Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman sheds light on the alleged misappropriation of funds from Kogi State. The witness detailed how large sums of money were deposited into the Kogi State bank account and then withdrawn in cash shortly thereafter, with withdrawals often amounting to N10 million each time. This pattern of deposits and immediate withdrawals raises suspicions of money laundering and financial impropriety.
The testimony from the bank representative provides crucial evidence in support of the EFCC’s case against the defendants. It demonstrates a clear trail of financial transactions that point towards the alleged misappropriation of state funds. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the evidence presented in court is compelling.
As the case continues to unfold, it will be important to see how the defense responds to this evidence and whether they can provide a convincing explanation for the financial transactions in question. The upcoming hearings in June will likely shed further light on the details of the case and may bring us closer to understanding the extent of the alleged financial misconduct in Kogi State.