Alleged ₦110.4bn fraud: Yahaya Bello in court as witness reveals secret payments to officials

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Fresh revelations emerged on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, as a prosecution witness disclosed that his company paid between 50 and 60 per cent of its consultancy commissions to officials of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS).

Testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh, the eighteenth prosecution witness (PW18) told the court that his firm, which specialised in information technology, tax automation, and advisory services, was engaged by KSIRS to provide consultancy support. He explained that the company initially earned a 15 per cent commission on tax collections above ₦350 million, later reviewed downward to five per cent as internally generated revenue grew.

The witness identified former KSIRS Chairman, Senator Yakubu Oseni, as one of the officials he dealt with. He revealed that directives to disburse portions of the commissions came from Oseni through his personal assistant, Yusuf Abdulmumuni.

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He further stated that similar instructions were later issued by Oseni’s successor, Aliyu Nda Salami, via his aide, Abdulwahab.

According to the witness, payments were made through both bank transfers and cash transactions. He confirmed that these disbursements were not part of the consultancy agreement but were carried out under pressure from KSIRS leadership.

He also noted that Senator Oseni nominated one Jami’u Salihu as a signatory to the Bespoke Business Solution project account with Zenith Bank, enabling Salihu to independently authorise withdrawals.

Reviewing exhibits before the court, EFCC lead counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, highlighted inflows from KSIRS into the company’s accounts, including ₦92.4 million on August 9, 2017, and ₦261.8 million on August 14, 2017, followed by withdrawals executed by Salihu.

The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16‑count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion. The witness confirmed that his company’s engagement with KSIRS ran from 2016 to 2017, though account statements presented covered transactions up to 2022.

The testimony adds a new dimension to the high‑profile trial, spotlighting alleged systemic diversion of funds within Kogi’s revenue service and raising questions about accountability in state tax administration.