The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, took a dramatic turn on Thursday, January 29, 2026, as a prosecution witness laid bare how billions of naira allegedly belonging to local governments in the state were funneled into private accounts and swiftly withdrawn in cash.
Before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, prosecution witness seven, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, painted a damning picture of financial sleight of hand that saw over ₦2.5 billion credited into Fazab Business Enterprise’s account in just eight months, almost all of it spirited away in cash.
Egoro testified that on May 6, 2022, 11 inflows totaling ₦103.3 million hit the Fazab account from councils including Yagba East, Yala, Idah, and Okene.
Just three days later, Ibaji and Dekina Local Government Areas added another ₦14.5 million.
By month’s end, ₦117.9 million had been credited, but nearly all of it was withdrawn in cash by one man: Yakubu Siyaka A.
Between May 9 and May 26, Egoro confirmed Siyaka withdrew ₦116.6 million, leaving a paltry ₦1 million balance.
June and July 2022 brought fresh inflows of ₦250.5 million. Again, Siyaka allegedly carted away ₦198.9 million in cash.
By December 2022, inflows had ballooned to ₦2.19 billion, with withdrawals and transfers to companies like Konforte Koncept, Shetland Logistics, Ejadams Essence, and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise totaling hundreds of millions.
Egoro told the court: “My lord, the total cash withdrawal by Yakubu Siyaka A. is ₦582.3 million.”
Turning to E-traders International Limited, Egoro revealed another staggering trail: between July 2021 and April 2022, ₦3.14 billion was lodged in cash, mostly in ₦10 million tranches, at Access Bank’s Lokoja branch.
Depositors included Abba Adaudu, Jamilu Abdullahi, and Haruna Mohammed.
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“All these deposits were made in Lokoja, though the account was opened in Mararaba, Nasarawa State,” Egoro noted.
At the close of proceedings, defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN), sought the release of Bello’s international passport to enable him perform the lesser Hajj during Ramadan.
The EFCC did not oppose but urged that the FCT High Court, where Bello faces another trial, be notified.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to Friday, January 30, 2026, for continuation of testimony.
This case, hinging on alleged laundering of ₦80.2 billion, continues to grip national attention, with each witness peeling back layers of what prosecutors describe as a brazen siphoning of public funds.
