By Muhammad Mamman
A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal High Court that former Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, has not been directly linked to the financial transactions at the centre of an alleged money laundering case.
Testifying before the court, the EFCC witness said that investigations so far had not established any direct connection between Bello and the specific bank transactions being scrutinised by the anti-graft agency.
The witness made the disclosure while being led in evidence by the prosecution during the ongoing trial involving alleged financial misconduct tied to funds reportedly moved through multiple accounts.
According to the testimony, the transactions under investigation were traced to several corporate and individual bank accounts, but none of the documents presented in court showed that Bello personally authorised or executed the transfers.
Under cross-examination, the witness maintained that while the investigation examined financial activities linked to associates and entities connected to the former governor’s administration, no document presented before the court directly bears Bello’s signature or indicates his personal involvement in the transactions.
The case forms part of the EFCC’s broader investigation into alleged mismanagement and laundering of public funds during Bello’s tenure as governor between 2016 and 2024.
Legal counsel representing the former governor argued that the testimony further weakens the prosecution’s claim that Bello personally benefited from or directed the financial dealings being investigated.
The trial continues at the Federal High Court as both the prosecution and defence prepare to present additional evidence and witnesses in the coming hearings.
