The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged fraud totalling ₦110.4 billion, continued on Thursday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendering additional bank records before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), continued the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Defence counsel to the first and second defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), questioned the witness on entries contained in Exhibit S1, a statement of account earlier admitted in evidence.
PW6 explained that the “description” column in the bank statement reflected transaction details, citing entries such as a ₦10 million cheque issued to Abdulsalami Hudu on January 20, 2016, and another cheque payment of ₦2,454,400 to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja.
He, however, said he was not aware of the specific purposes for which the funds were used.
Daudu also drew the witness’ attention to Exhibit X1, identified as the account opening documents of a company account domiciled at Zenith Bank’s Lokoja branch.
The witness testified on several inflows and outflows recorded in December 2016, including a N74.37 million credit from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and a N10 million cheque issued to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau.
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The prosecution further called PW8, Gabriel Ocha, a compliance officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), who tendered documents relating to Kunfayakun Global Limited covering transactions between 2018 and 2024.
He testified on transactions including a N30 million debit to the American International School, as well as several N10 million web transfers and NIBSS inflows recorded on November 1, 2021.
Thereafter, PW9, A.D. Ojoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, tendered the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited.
He identified several large credit entries, including payments running into hundreds of millions of naira from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in 2019.
The presiding judge Justice Maryann Anenih after listening to all counsels submissions and witness statements , she adjourned the matter until Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
