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Alleged fraud: Yahaya Bello’s name not in Kogi Govt House’s bank account – witness
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A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday heard that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was not involved in the operation of the state’s Government House’s bank account domiciled at a commercial bank.
A Compliant Officer with the bank, Mrs. Abimbola Williams, stated this while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the alleged N80.2 billion money laundering trial of the ex-CBN governor.
Mrs. Williams, who was cross-examined by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), said the forme governor’s name did not feature in all the withdrawals made from the account 1003889575 domiciled in the Lokoja, Kogi State capital, branch of the bank while the defendant was in office.
She added that Bello’s name also did not reflect in the account opening documents and the statements of account, which were later tended in court.
The witness said as a Compliance Officer, her duties include protecting the integrity of the bank from legal penalty, reputational damage and financial losses.
Mrs. Williams identified the three signatories to the account, including that of Alhaji Yakubu Ismail, said to be a permanent secretary.
The witness said she was not the Accounts Officer in charge of the Kogi Government House’s account and that the account is domiciled in Lokoja and not in Area 3 of Abuja, where she works.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Mrs. Williams identified series of withdrawals from the account through cheques.
The witness named Abdulsalami Hudu as the person handling fund withdrawals on behalf of the Kogi Government House.
She recalled that on December 12, 2018, 10 transactions were carried out on the account with N10 million withdraw in each transaction.
Mrs. Williams said the 10 transactions had the same narration – cheque withdrawal in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu.
Still reading from the account statement, the witness said it was evident in the statement that withdrawals from the account went mainly to two beneficiary – Abdul Salam Hudu and Aminu J. O.
According to her, the withdrawals were done by cheques and in tranches, with each maximum withdrawal pegged at N10 million.
Mrs. Williams explained that the cheques were presented across the counter and that the money was paid in cash or deposited into a beneficiary’s account.
The witness averred that it was not specific if the withdrawals were in cash.
The third prosecution witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, who described himself as an Internal Auditor in the American International School, said Bello had an agreement with the school to pay upfront the school fees of his five children for all the years they were to spend in the school.
Ohehomon added that there was also an arrangement for the payment of the fees of “future children”.
The prosecution tendered through Ohehomon some documents on Bello’s children’s studentship in the school, including admission letters and the receipts of the fees paid by the defendant.
The witness, who also tendered the school’s statements of account, announced the different classes the children were admitted into.
A copy of the contractual agreement between the defendant and the school for upfront payment of school fees for his children was also tendered.
The trial continues today.
Watch video depicting moment Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District townhall/stakeholders meeting convened by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio in Ikot Ekpene, the people renewed their resolve to stand on the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Watch below:
Popular Nigerian gospel singer Asu Ekiye has finally opened up on how his estranged wife, Kunemofa Asu, initiated the divorce proceedings that led to the dissolution of their 28-year marriage.
Ekiye, popularly known as the “Prince of the Niger Delta”, made the clarification in a statement shared on social media.
The clarification followed reactions to his earlier announcement on Thursday that his marriage to Kunemofa, which began in 1998, had ended.
The announcement sparked widespread reactions from fans of the award-winning singer, especially netizens, with many expressing shock at why a marriage of that length could have been salvaged.
However, following public curiosity, the singer, in a new post, clarified that his wife initiated the split and filed for divorce without a prior quarrel, and that reconciliation efforts failed.
Ekiye said his wife had expressed her desire to end the marriage, moved out of their home, and subsequently instituted divorce proceedings.
“The decision regarding the dissolution of my marriage was not one I initiated.
“Having done all I could to seek reconciliation, I eventually came to the difficult decision to accept the reality of the situation,” he said.
The singer said he spent about a year making efforts to reconcile with his wife and preserve the marriage, but she remained firm in her decision.
Ekiye said he decided to clarify the circumstances surrounding the divorce after receiving numerous calls and messages following his announcement about the end of the marriage.
He said he bore no bitterness or ill will towards his former wife and had chosen to approach the new phase of his life with dignity and respect for all concerned.
“I bear no bitterness or ill will toward anyone,” he said.
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has handed over nine suspected stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) after rescuing them from a merchant vessel in Lagos.
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft effected the handover on Friday following the discovery of the suspects concealed in the propeller compartment of MT *Evgenia* two days earlier.
According to a statement by the Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the suspects were found on Wednesday, August 19, and evacuated to the naval base for preliminary investigation and profiling.
He said investigations revealed that the suspects boarded the vessel while it was berthed at the Flour Mills Jetty in Apapa, allegedly intending to travel illegally to Europe.
The suspects were identified as Thompson Vincent, 23; Emmanuel Philip, 24; Tobi Olalekan, 32; Omotayo Adebowale, 43; Abdullahi Idowu, 21; Tunde Mustapha, 19; Jamiu Ismaila, 25; Ibrahim Alabi, 30; and Christian Kadiri, 22.
Adams-Aliu said the handover was part of ongoing collaboration among security agencies to curb illegal migration and strengthen maritime security.
He urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage young people from attempting to board seagoing vessels illegally, noting that the dangers associated with the practice extended beyond Nigeria to other West African coastal states.
He added that NNS Beecroft would continue to support the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, in deploying a professional naval force to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime interests and support national security operations.
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