By Andrew Haruna
Abuja, Nigeria – May 20, 2025
In a bombshell testimony that could redefine Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption fight, a senior official from Access Bank has revealed how billions of naira allegedly sourced from Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi State were funneled into private and shell company accounts during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Testifying before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Ofure Achille, former Head of Operations at Access Bank’s Lokoja branch, provided detailed evidence of a long-running money laundering scheme. She is the seventh prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s nephew and current Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Ali Bello is facing 18 counts of money laundering, primarily relating to the alleged diversion of N3 billion belonging to Kogi State.
Suspicious Transactions and Shell Companies
Ms. Achille told the court that numerous transactions involving hundreds of millions of naira were made by individuals and entities whose financial profiles did not support such large movements.
“These transactions were flagged and reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) under existing anti-money laundering frameworks,” she said.
Citing examples, she mentioned a series of deposits made into the E-Traders account operated by Jamilu Abdulahi—N30 million over two consecutive days in December 2021, followed by N40 million and another N30 million in early 2022.
She also identified Fazab Business Enterprise and Hyzman Ary Construction Limited as companies that received substantial inflows from various Kogi LGAs, including one staggering transaction on August 29, 2017, when Ary Construction received N171 million shortly after a deposit of only N10,000.
Prosecution Building Strong Case
The EFCC’s lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), guided the witness through documented transaction records indicating a systematic diversion of public funds using shell firms and personal bank accounts.
Other co-defendants standing trial include Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello, who are accused of facilitating the movement of state funds into private control under the guise of legitimate business transactions.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Legal experts say this trial could become one of Nigeria’s most high-profile corruption cases, with implications that stretch from Lokoja to national politics.
Justice Obiora Egwatu is presiding over the case, and the trial is expected to continue with more witnesses and forensic financial evidence being presented in the coming weeks.
Observers say the testimony of Access Bank’s official marks a turning point in the prosecution’s case, reinforcing public pressure on the judiciary to deliver justice amid growing concerns over financial mismanagement in state governments.
