The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, continued on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting more evidence detailing multiple suspicious cash withdrawals allegedly linked to the Kogi State Government House accounts.
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, continued his evidence-in-chief, narrating a series of large and repeated cash withdrawals made by Abdulsalami Hudu and others from the Kogi State Government accounts between 2016 and 2018.
Led in evidence under subpoena by the prosecution counsel, professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Bata took the court through several entries in Exhibit S1, confirming multiple withdrawals made by the second defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu.
“On the 12th of February 2016, there were 21 withdrawals by Abdulsalami Hudu totaling N200 million,” the witness said. “Similarly, on the 10th of March 2016, I observed numerous withdrawals amounting to N326,598,750. However, after reviewing, I can confirm that the total was actually N100 million.”
He further told the court that on the 3rd of June, 8th of June, and 10th of June 2016, there were withdrawals of N100 million, N100 million, and N119 million respectively.
Responding to further questions from Pinheiro, the witness said that the pattern of withdrawals remained consistent across several dates in June and July of that year.
“Between July 8 and 29, July, there were consistent cash withdrawals made by Abdulsalami Hudu. The same pattern continued through August,” he said.
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When asked about the source of funds, the witness stated: “On August 2, 2016, there was an inflow of N50 million from Kogi State statutory revenue account. Other inflows followed, N50 million from Idhu Integrated Services on August 9, and N15.5 million from the Ministry of Finance on August 10.”
He continued: “On August 31, 2016, there were 21 cash withdrawals by Abdulsalami Hudu totaling N188,741,000.
The pattern was consistent into September and October 2016, with several cash withdrawals on multiple dates.”
Bata added that on October 27, 2016, “there were 21 withdrawals amounting to N188,216,155,” and that on December 21, 2016, “there were 40 withdrawals made on the same day by the same individual, Hudu.”
He further disclosed that on May 9, 2017, “there were 29 withdrawals totaling N203,240,000,” and on October 12, 2017, “36 withdrawals were made,” while “on November 1, 2017, there were 20 withdrawals totaling N200 million.”
According to him, on the 30th and 31st of January 2018, cash withdrawals of N350 million and N347,267,000 were made respectively. “On the 1st and 2nd of February 2018, N300 million and N99,177,300 were withdrawn,” he said, adding that the total withdrawals for the four days amounted to “N1,096,044,300.”
The witness also confirmed that Exhibit S1, the statement of account, showed that as of November 14, 2016, the account had a zero balance, with the first credit of N74,378,483.20 recorded on December 6, 2016. “On the same day, there were cash withdrawals totaling N30 million in favour of Mohammed Salihu,” he said.
Continuing, Bata stated that on December 9, 2016, N40 million was transferred to Echies Designs and Cost Associate Limited, and that on April 21, 2017, there was an inflow of N202,302,745.20 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue.
“After the inflow, there were 11 withdrawals totaling N101 million by Yusuf Abdulmumini,” he said.
He also confirmed that on April 24, 2017, there were seven withdrawals by the same person amounting to N66 million, bringing the total cash withdrawn after the N202 million inflow to N167 million.
The witness further testified that on August 9, 2017, there was an inflow of N92,444,092.06, followed by multiple withdrawals on August 10 totaling N52 million by Mohammed Salihu. On August 14, 2017, another inflow of N261,856,882.78 was recorded, and on August 17, N70 million was transferred via NEFT to Efab Properties.
He added that “on August 18, there was a withdrawal of N18 million by Umar Comfort, while on August 15, 2017, N10 million was withdrawn by Abdulsalami Hudu and N40 million by Umar Comfort, shortly after an inflow of N50 million from Kogi State revenue account.”
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The prosecution also tendered Exhibit R1, a USD account statement belonging to Whales Oil and Gas. The witness confirmed an outward transfer on November 12, 2021, saying, “There was a transfer of $11,000 to Academic Services Farida Oricha, Corporate Ibank FX, to America International School.”
Bata further referred to Exhibit P1 (Alyeshua Solutions Services account statement), identifying debit entries dated January 21 and 25, 2021. “The transactions were for Naima Ohunene Bello and Fatima Bello to the American International School, Abuja, amounting to $42,170 and $78,160 respectively,” he said.
After the detailed testimony, defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, applied for an adjournment to allow the lead defence counsel, J. Daudu, SAN, to conduct cross-examination on Thursday, November 13, 2025 because, according to him, he came late and there’s a need for him to study the testimony of the witness for him to be able to conduct his cross-examination diligently.
However, Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defence had no valid reason for seeking an adjournment. “My lord, we were before this court when we began with this witness. The entire defence team was present, and all documents were tendered. The defence sought a stand down earlier because their leader was absent, and we objected. Now that he is here, there is no justification for adjournment,” he said.
He added, “EFCC is a serious agency; we are consistent with our witnesses and ready to proceed every day to conclude this matter. Adjournments should not be granted as a matter of course unless there’s a cogent reason.”
In response, Yahaya insisted that the earlier understanding between both parties should be respected. “We took over two hours before our lead counsel came. It’s a promise he made, and he should keep it. It will not be right to change the agreement now,” he said.
Ruling on the application, Justice Anineh held that while adjournments are not automatic, the court could grant one in the interest of justice.
“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,” she said.
