Femi Remigus, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, presented key evidence against Ali Bello, the chief of staff to Governor Usman Ododo, in the ongoing trial concerning an alleged N3 billion money laundering scheme.
The case is being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
Bello, alongside Abba Daudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and the absent Rashida Bello, was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February 2023 with 18 counts related to the misappropriation of funds and money laundering.
The total amount involved in the case is N3.08 billion, and all the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Remigus, the sixth prosecution witness, detailed how substantial sums of money were deposited into the account of Komfort Koncept Company from various local government accounts across Kogi State in 2018.
He explained that on October 4, 2018, nine deposits were made into Komfort Koncept’s account, with funds coming from local governments such as Ibaji, Adavi, Kogi, Kabba, Ankpa, Yagba West, and Ofu. The total amount deposited ran into millions of naira.
Remigus further clarified that prior to these deposits, the Komfort Koncept account had a mere N7,275 balance.
He also testified that on the same day these deposits were made, N105 million was transferred into the accounts of Mr. Daudu and other individuals involved in the scheme.
In the course of the trial, the EFCC presented several banking documents, including statements of account, account opening forms, and identification certificates linked to Komfort Koncept, the defendants, and their associates.
Although the defense team, led by Nureni Jimoh, raised objections to the admissibility of these documents, Justice Egwuatu allowed them to be entered into evidence, with the final determination of their significance to be made during the judgment phase.
The case has been adjourned to May 5, May 19, May 20, and May 21, 2025, for further hearings.
Additionally, Ali Bello faces separate charges in another case being heard before Justice James Omotosho.