The ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja took a new turn on Monday as a prosecution witness from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) affirmed that withdrawals made by the Kogi State Government did not violate any banking regulations.
The fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with one of Nigeria’s commercial banks, testified under cross-examination before Justice Emeka Nwite that the transactions under review were legitimate and within the limits allowed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Mshelia also confirmed that the name of the former governor, Yahaya Bello, did not appear as a beneficiary in the account presented as evidence by the EFCC.
During the session, Defence Counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Daudu, drew the witness’s attention to certain withdrawals made by one Umar Olufunke, which were not mentioned by the prosecution.
The EFCC had earlier focused on withdrawals made by Abdulsalam Hudu, a cashier at the Kogi State Government House, between December 2017 and April 2018, mostly in tranches of ₦10 million to various hotels within the state.
Under further questioning, the witness acknowledged that withdrawals made by another official, Alhassan Omakoji, between November 2021 and December 2022, were also within the approved banking limits.
He added that he was unaware of any law restricting how the Kogi State Government could spend its funds or allocations, noting that apart from the listed beneficiaries, he could not determine the purpose of each transaction.
Following his testimony, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), declined re-examination, and Justice Nwite discharged the witness.
Subsequently, the EFCC presented its fifth prosecution witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer from Ecobank Plc. Akoni confirmed the receipt of a subpoena and tendered a statement of account belonging to Moses Ailetu Companies, covering January 1 to January 31, 2016. The document, which showed cash deposits ranging from ₦3 million to ₦20 million — totaling ₦57 million — was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.
Under cross-examination, Akoni also confirmed that former Governor Bello was not listed as a beneficiary of the said deposits and that the documents did not reveal the source of the funds.
The prosecution further introduced additional witnesses — including Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer from Keystone Bank, and Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer from Access Bank — both of whom presented subpoenaed financial documents to the court.
However, a brief disagreement arose between the defence and prosecution over certain “extraneous” attachments to the documents submitted by Access Bank. Justice Nwite directed that the irrelevant materials be detached from the evidence.
The matter has been adjourned to November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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