EFCC Trial: Witness Says Kogi Revenue Board Paid Tax Consultant ₦1.1bn in Eight Months

Fresh details emerged on Friday in the corruption trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, as a prosecution witness told a Federal Capital Territory High Court that the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue paid more than ₦1.16 billion to a tax consultant within eight months.

Testifying for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), David Ajoda, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, said the payments were made between January and August 2019, shortly after the consultant was engaged by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS).

According to the witness, the consultant received a total of ₦1,164,929,569 as commission during the period. He added that records showed ₦952.4 million was withdrawn from the account within the same timeframe, leaving a balance of ₦212.5 million.

Ajoda told the court that the withdrawals followed a similar pattern and were allegedly carried out by one Phillip Unar. He explained that before the consultancy arrangement began, the account held just over ₦2 million, but inflows increased significantly once the tax contract commenced.

The banker, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), tendered bank statements of the consultant, which were admitted by the court. However, he clarified that he had no knowledge of the specific terms or nature of the consultancy agreement between KSIRS and the consultant.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), Ajoda acknowledged that the name “Kogi State Government” did not appear in the bank transactions. He also confirmed that neither Yahaya Bello nor the other defendants—Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—were listed as beneficiaries of any withdrawals.

He further testified that the transactions did not breach Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations, noting that individuals are permitted to withdraw up to ₦5 million, while corporate entities may withdraw up to ₦10 million per transaction. As a result, he said no suspicious transaction report was filed against the consultant.

Ajoda also emphasised that Kogi State Government and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service are separate entities, a distinction raised repeatedly during cross-examination.

The trial judge, Justice Maryann Anenih, adjourned further hearing in the matter until February 10.