The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday tendered additional bank documents before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja as the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud continued.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering. The EFCC alleges that the defendants diverted public funds amounting to billions of naira during Bello’s tenure as governor.

Bank Compliance Officer Testifies

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryanne Anineh, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that proceedings would continue with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.

During cross-examination by J.B. Daudu, SAN, counsel to the first and second defendants, Bata was referred to Exhibit S1, where he clarified that the “description” column in the account statement reflected the narration of transactions.

He was asked to explain entries dated January 20, 2016, including a ₦10 million cheque issued to Abdulsalami Hudu and another payment of ₦2.45 million to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. Bata told the court that he could not determine the purpose for which the funds were used.

“I won’t know the purpose of the ₦10 million collected by Hudu or how the money paid to Halims Hotels was spent,” he said.

More Financial Records Revealed

The defence also referred to Exhibit X1, identified as the account-opening document of a company domiciled at Zenith Bank’s Lokoja branch. Bata confirmed several transactions, including a ₦74.37 million credit from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on December 6, 2016, and a ₦10 million cheque issued to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau, noting again that the transaction narrations did not disclose their purposes.

Counsel to the third defendant, Z.B. Abbas, also cross-examined the witness, who confirmed that withdrawals from the Government House account were made by cheque and signed by authorised officials. He further stated that the third defendant had been introduced to the bank as a civil servant and accountant.

When the defence suggested that the third defendant merely acted in an official capacity, the prosecution objected. Justice Anineh upheld the objection.

Bata also listed the account signatories as Chris Onyepola (Permanent Secretary), Onyechukwu Daniel L. (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant). He testified that several inflows tagged as “security fund” payments were recorded in 2016, including six transfers of ₦10 million each, alongside other credits of ₦50 million and ₦100 million, followed by withdrawals.

More Witnesses, More Evidence

After PW6 was discharged, the EFCC called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, a compliance officer with Keystone Bank, who appeared in court pursuant to a subpoena.

Hassan tendered the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction covering January to December 2021. He told the court that the account reflected multiple ₦10 million transfers in February 2021 totaling ₦100 million, as well as subsequent transfers to Zadakkayak Global and commission payments amounting to ₦25.96 million.

The EFCC also presented Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), A.D. Ojoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, who tendered the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited. Ojoma highlighted large inflows from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, including ₦138.4 million in April 2019 and ₦136.8 million in May 2019, described as NAFFS Kogi State payments, as well as further credits of ₦183.6 million and ₦242.2 million in August 2019.

Justice Anineh adjourned the case to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.