An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness told an Abuja Court that the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue (KSIRS) paid over ₦1.1 billion in commissions to a tax consultant, Bespoke Business Solutions Limited,
David Ajoma, who made this known while testifying in the ongoing trial of former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello and two others, said the amount was paid within eight months in 2019.
Bello is being prosecuted before Justice Maryanne Anenih, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu by the EFCC.
They were alleged to have committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the sum of N110,446,470,089, among others.
Bello and his co-defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The witness presented bank statements for the account of the tax consultant, Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, detailing several large credit entries from the KSIRS in 2019.
Ajoma also said that N952. 4 million was withdrawn by the consultant from his account with Sterling Bank within the same 8 months leaving a balance of N212, 525, 569 in the account.
The witness led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN however said that he does not know details of the business between Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and the Consultant.
Prior to engagement of the tax consultant by the Kogi tax board, the witness told the court that the company had over N2 million in the account.
He added that credit inflows into the account rose immediately the tax consultancy business took off.
Under cross examination by Joseph Daudu SAN, counsel to Bello and Umar Shuaib Oricha, the witness admitted that the name “Kogi State Government” did not feature in the bank transactions.
He also admitted that bank account belongs to customer and that such customers can make withdrawals unhindered as long as such withdrawals are within the stipulated laws.
The witness admitted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations permitted N5 million maximum withdrawal for individuals while corporate entity is N10 million maximum per withdrawal.
He said that the tax consultant did not breach CBN regulations in the multiple withdrawals, hence, no report of suspicion was made against the tax consultant.
The banker also admitted that Yahaya Bello’s name and his co-defendants did not feature in the bank statement as beneficiaries of any of the withdrawals.
The witness also admitted that there is a difference between Kogi state government and Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, adding that the two are separate entities.
Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned continuation of trial until Feb. 10.(NAN)
