Inflow into our account from KIRS is our commission, EFCC witness tells court

 

The 18th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing alleged money laundering case filed against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, said on Wednesday that the commission that came into the account before the court was for his company.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, called the witness, Philip Kuma, after a brief recess.

Kuma, an IT expert and owner of Bespoke Business Solutions and Bespoke Global Concept, said his company was engaged as lead consultant by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.

While being cross-examined by Paul Daudu SAN, the witness said he could not recall whether he was the one who signed an engagement agreement with KIRS on behalf of his company.

He identified the company’s shareholders as
Defendant- who are the other shareholders as Margaret Kuma and
Augustine Kuma for Bespoke s
Solutions Services Limited.

He also admitted that he had no board resolutions to deviate from the agreement to pay those he described as stakeholders part of the commission.

He added that there was no requirement to pay any stakeholders in the agreement reached with KIRS.

Earlier, during his examination-in-chief, when asked if his company provided the services free of charge, he said no.

“We were to receive 15 per cent commission on the IGR above the threshold of N350m,” he responded.

The witness, an IT expert, added that, along the line, the commission was reviewed downward from 15 per cent to five per cent.

“This was because during our engagement, the IGR grew and at the same time our operating third party was lowered because of the automation,” he added.

According to the witness, Yakubu Oseni was the chairman of the revenue service when his company was engaged.

He also confirmed that Jamiu Salawu was not a shareholder in any of the companies he mentioned earlier, adding that an agreement to pay stakeholders some percentage, which he mentioned earlier, was not anywhere in form of MoU.

“Our work is limited to automation of the tax administration processes, carrying out tax duties, tax audits, tax paying entities within the state. Also we engaged in advisory on tax policy and strategy,” he said.

The statements of account of Bespoke Business Solutions with Sterling Bank and Zenith Bank were presented to the witness for identification.

He noted that when Aliu Nda Salami became the chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services, his company still continued its engagement with KIRS.

He earlier said 50 per cent of the five per cent commission they generated was given to stakeholders without mentioning specific names.

This, he later said was not in the agreement.

When asked if he knew one Jamiu Salawu, he said he was the signatory nominated by Senator Yakubu Oseni for the Zenith Bank project account of the company.

He was referred to inflows from Kogi State and identified one N4.8m on 10th January, 2018 and N74.3m on 6th December, 2016.

“Following that inflow, confirm the report that there was a withdrawal by Jamiu Salawu,” Pinheiro SAN said.

“Yes,” the witness responded.

He also identified an inflow of N202.3m on 21st, April 2017 and also confirmed that there were cheque withdrawals by one Yusuf Abdulmumuni.

After a brief evidence by one more witness, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the case to October 14, 16, 27 and 28 for continuation of hearing.

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