By SUNTV Global Channel | January 15, 2026
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud, took a new turn on Thursday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered additional bank documents before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering, arising from alleged diversion of public funds during his tenure as governor.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryanne Anineh, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) informed the court that proceedings would continue with the further cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Bank Transactions Under Scrutiny
During cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN), PW6 was questioned on transaction details contained in Exhibit S1, particularly the structure and narration of entries in the account statement.
Bata explained that the “description” column merely reflected transaction narrations and did not reveal the purpose of payments. He cited entries including a ₦10 million cheque issued to Abdulsalami Hudu on January 20, 2016, and another payment of ₦2.45 million to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja.
“I won’t know the purpose of the ₦10 million collected by Hudu or the payment made to Halims Hotels, and what it was used for,” the witness told the court.
He also confirmed Exhibit X1 as the account-opening package of a company domiciled at Zenith Bank, Lokoja branch, highlighting notable credits such as ₦74.38 million received from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on December 6, 2016, as well as a ₦10 million cheque paid to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau—again noting that the narrations did not explain the transactions.
Defence, Objections, and Account Signatories
Counsel to the third defendant, Z.B. Abbas, questioned the witness on withdrawals from the Government House account. Bata confirmed that all withdrawals were made by cheque and signed by authorised officials.
When Abbas suggested that the third defendant merely acted in line with his civil service duties, the prosecution objected. Justice Anineh upheld the objection, ruling that the witness could not testify on that issue.
PW6 listed the account signatories as Chris Onyepola (Permanent Secretary), Onyechukwu Daniel L. (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant). He further disclosed several inflows labelled as “security fund” payments, including six tranches of ₦10 million each (₦60 million total), alongside other credits of ₦50 million and ₦100 million, followed by withdrawals.
More Witnesses, More Documents
After PW6 was discharged, the EFCC called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, a compliance officer with Keystone Bank, who appeared pursuant to a subpoena. The court admitted the subpoena alongside documents, including the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction for January–December 2021.
Hassan testified that the account showed multiple ₦10 million transfers in February 2021, amounting to ₦100 million, traced to Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak, as well as subsequent transfers to Zadakkayak Global and commission payments totaling ₦25.96 million.
The prosecution also presented Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), A.D. Ojoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, who tendered the account statement of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited.
Ojoma highlighted significant 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, alongside further credits of ₦183.6 million and ₦242.2 million in August 2019.
Case Adjourned
Following the day’s proceedings, Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned the matter to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
The case remains one of the most closely watched corruption trials in recent years, as the EFCC continues to present documentary and banking evidence to support its allegations against the former governor and his co-defendants.
— SUNTV Global Channel
