EFCC Presents Fresh Evidence of Massive Cash Withdrawals in Yahaya Bello’s ₦110.4bn Fraud Trial
By Passman Akpos
Abuja — The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, resumed on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting more evidence of suspicious cash withdrawals allegedly linked to the Kogi State Government House accounts.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion.
At the resumed sitting before Justice Maryanne Anineh, the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, continued his testimony under subpoena. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Bata detailed a pattern of large-scale cash withdrawals made from the state government’s accounts between 2016 and 2018.
According to the witness, on February 12, 2016, Abdulsalami Hudu made 21 withdrawals totaling ₦200 million, while on March 10, 2016, several withdrawals amounting to ₦326.5 million were recorded, though the verified total was ₦100 million. Similar transactions occurred on June 3, 8, and 10, 2016, each involving withdrawals of ₦100 million, ₦100 million, and ₦119 million respectively.
He added that the same pattern persisted through June, July, and August of that year. “Between the 8th and 29th of July, there were consistent cash withdrawals by Abdulsalami Hudu. The same pattern continued through August,” Bata said.
The witness also traced several inflows and outflows to and from the accounts. “On August 2, 2016, ₦50 million came from Kogi State’s statutory revenue account; ₦50 million from Idhu Integrated Services on August 9; and ₦15.5 million from the Ministry of Finance on August 10,” he testified.
He told the court that on August 31, 2016, 21 cash withdrawals totaling ₦188.7 million were made, followed by ₦188.2 million on October 27, 2016, and 40 withdrawals by the same person on December 21, 2016.
Further transactions revealed that on May 9, 2017, ₦203.2 million was withdrawn in 29 tranches, while ₦200 million was taken out on November 1, 2017. Between January 30 and February 2, 2018, withdrawals totaling ₦1.09 billion were recorded.
Bata further testified that as of November 14, 2016, the account balance stood at zero, but received ₦74.3 million on December 6, after which ₦30 million was withdrawn the same day in favour of one Mohammed Jamiu Salihu.
He went on to confirm that on April 21, 2017, ₦202.3 million was paid in from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, followed by 11 withdrawals totaling ₦101 million, and seven more withdrawals of ₦66 million three days later.
The witness also mentioned several inflows and subsequent withdrawals in August 2017, including ₦92.4 million, ₦261.8 million, and a ₦70 million transfer to Efab Properties. Other beneficiaries listed included Umar Comfort and Abdulsalami Hudu, who withdrew tens of millions of naira shortly after fresh deposits.
In addition, Bata confirmed Exhibit R1 — a dollar account statement belonging to Whales Oil and Gas — showing a $11,000 transfer on November 12, 2021 to Academic Services Farida Oricha for America International School.
Another document, Exhibit P1 (Alyeshua Solutions Services account statement), reflected $42,170 and $78,160 payments to the same school for Naima Ohunene Bello and Fatima Oziohu Bello, respectively — names linked to the former governor’s family.
Following the detailed testimony, defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, sought an adjournment to allow the lead defence lawyer, J.B. Daudu, SAN, to cross-examine the witness the next day, arguing that Daudu had just arrived in court and needed time to review the testimony.
However, EFCC’s lead counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the request, saying there was no valid reason for adjournment. “The defence was present when this witness began his testimony. Adjournments should not be granted as a matter of course unless for cogent reasons,” he argued.
After hearing both sides, Justice Anineh granted the adjournment, stating that although adjournments are discretionary, the interest of justice would be served by allowing the defence time to prepare.
“I have considered the application for adjournment. It is correct that adjournment can only be granted at the discretion of the court. However, in the interest of justice, I believe the matter should be adjourned till tomorrow, November 13, 2025, for cross-examination and continuation of trial,” the judge ruled.
The trial continues on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
