The EFCC has presented fresh bank records in the ₦110.4bn fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, as courtroom drama deepens at the FCT High Court, Abuja
₦110.4bn Fraud Trial: EFCC Unveils Fresh Bank Records Against Ex-Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello
The high-profile ₦110.4 billion fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, took a dramatic turn on Thursday, January 15, 2026, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered fresh bank records detailing extensive financial transactions allegedly linked to the case.
Proceedings resumed before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, where the prosecution introduced additional documentary evidence in support of the charges against Bello and his co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The trio is standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Leading the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the day’s proceedings focused on the continuation of the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, Bata explained the structure and content of the bank statements tendered, including cheque payments of ₦10 million and disbursements to companies such as Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. However, he maintained that the statements did not disclose the specific purposes for which the funds were eventually used.
“I cannot determine the ultimate purpose of the funds based on the bank statements alone,” the witness told the court.
Further questioning revealed several high-value inflows into Zenith Bank accounts domiciled at the Lokoja branch, including large credits from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, some running into tens of millions of naira in single transactions. Bata confirmed that many of the transactions lacked clear narrations, stressing that banking descriptions alone could not establish intent.
During cross-examination by Z.B. Abbas, counsel to the third defendant, the witness confirmed that withdrawals from the Government House account were executed via cheques duly signed by authorised signatories, including a permanent secretary and senior accounting officers. He also detailed multiple inflows labelled “security fund” and “His Excellency Special Sec Vote,” followed by corresponding withdrawals.
The EFCC subsequently called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, an executive trainee with Keystone Bank, who appeared under subpoena. He tendered the 2021 statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction, showing multiple ₦10 million transfers, cumulatively amounting to ₦100 million, from individuals identified as Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak.
Another witness, A.D. Ojoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank and Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), presented the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited. He highlighted several substantial inflows, including credits exceeding ₦138 million, ₦136 million, ₦183 million, and ₦242 million, many traced to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and described as commissions, contractor payments, and procurement-related transactions.
Despite objections raised by defence counsel regarding the admissibility of some documents, Justice Anineh admitted the exhibits, noting that reasons for the objections would be addressed at a later stage of the trial.
At the close of proceedings, the court adjourned the matter to Friday, January 16, 2026, for the continuation of trial, as tension continues to mount in what has become one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption cases. Read More
