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₦110.4bn Fraud: EFCC Reveals How Kogi LG Funds Entered Private Accounts Monthly
A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama how funds from Kogi State Local Government accounts were allegedly paid into private company accounts on a monthly basis.
The witness, John Justice, an operative of the Commission, made the disclosure on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while testifying as Prosecution Witness 20 (PW20) in the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu before Justice Maryanne Anineh on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Justice said the investigation began after intelligence received by the EFCC’s Procurement Fraud Section regarding activities of local governments in Kogi State.
He said the intelligence named several companies including Hayzma, Bibas Energy, Forza Oil and Gas and Keyless Ventures.
According to him, investigators carried out Bank Verification Number (BVN) searches and wrote to banks for transaction records. Analysis of the responses showed that most inflows into the account of Forza Business Enterprise came from Kogi LG accounts every month.
“Most of the funds coming into the account were funds from Kogi State Local Government accounts coming on monthly basis,” the witness told the court.
He added that although the inflows were recorded as cash withdrawals, the money did not physically leave the banks.
“Our analysis reveals that these companies were receiving inflow from Kogi State while transactions were treated as cash withdrawals,” he said.
The Commission, he said, invited officials of Access Bank and Zenith Bank and obtained CCTV footage which showed that a customer would fill a withdrawal cheque and a deposit slip to move money to a different account without physically carrying cash out.
“What this means is; a customer walks into the bank, he fills a cheque withdrawal and a deposit slip to a different account,” he explained.
He identified Exhibit AO as Hayzma Business Enterprise, AT as Keyless Nature and AP as Forza Business Enterprise, while a BVN search on Keyless Nature revealed the name Abba Adaudu. Earlier searches returned names like Yakubu Siyaka Adebenege and Iyadat Sa’adat.
The witness, who said he has been with the EFCC for over nine years and was trained in asset tracing, anti-money laundering and fraud investigation, said Emeka Okonjo, Adamu Umar, Hamza Lawal and Dauda Usman were part of the investigation team.
Earlier, counsels to the defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN and Z.E. Abbas, concluded cross-examination of PW19, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator, who was subsequently discharged.
Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to November 24, December 2 and 8, 2026 for continuation.
₦110.4bn Fraud: EFCC Reveals How Kogi LG Funds Entered Private Accounts Monthly
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