Yahaya Bello Trial: Witness Says He Paid 60% Of Kogi Tax Consultancy Commission To Officials

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that he paid between 50 and 60 per cent of the commissions earned by his company from consultancy services rendered to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service to some officials of the agency.

The witness, who testified as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) 18th prosecution witness, made the disclosure before Justice Maryanne Anenih while being led in evidence by the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.

The witness told the court that his company was engaged in information technology, software development, software implementation, marketing and tax automation services.

He said the EFCC invited him in connection with business transactions involving his company and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.

“My company had business dealings with the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service. It was in connection with that that my company was invited,” he said.

According to him, the company served as a consultant to the revenue agency, providing tax process automation, tax audits and advisory services on tax policy and strategy.

The witness explained that under the initial agreement, his company was entitled to a 15 per cent commission on tax collections exceeding ₦350 million.

“The agreement was to receive 15 per cent commission on transactions above ₦350 million. The agreement was later reviewed downward to five per cent because the Internally Generated Revenue had grown significantly and our operating costs became lower due to automation,” he said.

The witness identified former Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Senator Yakubu Oseni, as one of the officials he dealt with during the consultancy arrangement.

Speaking on how the commissions received by the company were disbursed, he said between 50 and 60 per cent of the earnings were paid to certain stakeholders.

When asked whether such payments formed part of the consultancy agreement, he replied: “No.”

He stated that the payments were made through both bank transfers and cash transactions.

According to him, the payments were carried out on the instructions of Senator Oseni through his Personal Assistant, Yusuf Abdulmumuni.

He further alleged that cash payments continued under Oseni’s successor, Aliyu Nda Salami, through Salami’s Personal Assistant, Abdulwahab.

During proceedings, the witness identified statements of account belonging to his company maintained with Zenith Bank and Sterling Bank, which were admitted as exhibits.

He told the court that although the consultancy arrangement lasted from around 2016 to 2017, the Sterling Bank account reflected transactions up to 2022.

The witness also disclosed that one Jami’u Salihu was nominated by Oseni as a signatory to the company’s project account with Zenith Bank.

“Jami’u Salihu signs independently from me,” he said.

While reviewing account transactions, the witness confirmed several inflows from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and corresponding withdrawals by Salihu.

He identified an inflow of ₦92.4 million on August 9, 2017, and another inflow of ₦261.8 million on August 14, 2017, followed by withdrawals carried out by Salihu.

The witness also confirmed payments totalling ₦70 million made to Efab Properties on August 17, 2017.

However, he stated that he could not identify the property involved because he did not initiate the transactions.

“I wouldn’t know which property was paid for because it was not my transaction,” he said.

He also confirmed credits totalling about ₦260 million received on September 11, 2017, and stated that some payments made to Echis Materials, Quant and Kalaz Ventures Limited were executed by Salihu and not by him.