EFCC investigator John Justice tells FCT High Court that bank records showed recurring monthly inflows from Kogi State local governments into three companies, while CCTV footage reportedly indicated that recorded cash withdrawals were not physically collected.
ABUJA, October 24, 2026 — An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), John Justice, on Tuesday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how three companies allegedly received recurring monthly payments from local government accounts in Kogi State during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Justice, the 20th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, testified that investigations into the transactions revealed substantial cash withdrawals recorded against the accounts of the local governments, while closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained from two banks reportedly showed that the cash was not physically collected as indicated by the transaction records.
The investigator identified the companies as Hazyman Investment Limited, Bimas Ventures Limited and Fazad.
According to his testimony, the EFCC examined banking records, conducted Bank Verification Number (BVN) searches and reviewed CCTV footage as part of its investigation into the financial activities of Kogi State’s local governments.
CCTV Footage Reveals Nature of Recorded Cash Withdrawals
Testifying before the court, Justice explained that the commission approached Access Bank and Zenith Bank to obtain transaction records and CCTV footage because of the volume of withdrawals under investigation.
He said the footage obtained from the banks showed that customers did not physically leave the banking premises with the amounts recorded as cash withdrawals.
“We invited the banks (Access and Zenith) because of the voluminous nature of the withdrawals. We requested CCTV footage of the banks, and it revealed that the customers were not taking the cash out of the banks,” the witness told the court.
Justice further explained that the banks described the transactions as “in and out”, a process in which a customer allegedly completed a cheque withdrawal and subsequently deposited the money into another account.
“The banks explained that those transactions were treated as in and out. When we asked the banks what they meant, they explained that the customer walked into the bank, filled a cheque withdrawal and filled a deposit slip to a different account,” he said.
The testimony suggested that although the transactions were recorded as cash withdrawals, the funds were subsequently channelled into other accounts rather than being physically removed from the banks.
The precise circumstances surrounding the transactions and the roles of the companies involved remain matters to be established through the evidence presented before the court.
EFCC Investigation Traced Funds to Kogi Local Governments
Justice, an asset-tracing, procurement-fraud and anti-money-laundering specialist, also outlined how the EFCC commenced its investigation into the financial activities of Kogi State’s local governments.
He told the court that the commission received intelligence concerning transactions involving the local governments, after which investigators identified three companies that repeatedly appeared in the course of their inquiries.
According to him, he and other members of the EFCC’s Procurement Fraud Section, led by Emeka Okonjo, conducted BVN searches on the companies to establish their financial connections and identify individuals associated with their operations.
The investigation identified Yakubu Siyaka among the individuals linked to the companies, the witness said.
Following the BVN searches, the team wrote to Access Bank and Zenith Bank to request transaction records relating to the companies.
Bank Records Show Recurring Monthly Inflows
Justice told the court that the responses from the banks enabled investigators to obtain statements of account for analysis.
He said the analysis revealed that most of the funds entering the accounts of the companies originated from local governments in Kogi State, with inflows occurring regularly on a monthly basis.
The witness further disclosed that the investigation identified Keyless Nature as a beneficiary of the transactions under examination.
According to him, investigators subsequently conducted a BVN search on Keyless Nature, which identified Abba Adaudu.
Justice said the analysis of the relevant accounts showed recurring inflows from Kogi State’s local governments, with many of the transactions classified as cash withdrawals.
The evidence, as presented by the prosecution witness, formed part of the EFCC’s effort to trace the movement of funds through the companies and determine the nature of the transactions.
However, the testimony presented at this stage of the proceedings does not, by itself, establish criminal liability on the part of every company or individual mentioned. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Court Adjourns Proceedings to November 24
Following the witness’s testimony, the trial judge, Justice Maryann Anenih, adjourned the case until November 24.
The proceedings form part of the ongoing prosecution involving allegations concerning financial transactions linked to Kogi State during Bello’s administration.
The evidence relating to the movement of funds from local government accounts, the role of the companies identified by the EFCC and the nature of the recorded cash withdrawals will be considered within the wider context of the evidence presented in court.
The testimony by the EFCC investigator has placed banking records, BVN searches and CCTV footage at the centre of the prosecution’s account of transactions involving Kogi State’s local governments and three companies during Yahaya Bello’s administration.
As the proceedings continue, the court will determine the evidential significance of the transactions and any allegations established against the parties concerned.
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