The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Wednesday before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a witness detailing how billions of naira were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State Government’s coffers through serial cash transactions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the third prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), narrated how several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government account in 2018 and 2019, allegedly in favour of Abdulsalami Gudu.
According to Williams, “On December 12, 2018, there were ten debit transactions through cheque withdrawals of ₦10 million each, totaling ₦100 million. On January 4, 2019, there were four withdrawals amounting to ₦29.85 million. Similar transactions continued on various dates in January, February, March, May, and August 2019.”
She further revealed that between July 31 and August 6, 2019, a total of ₦640 million was withdrawn through 64 separate cheque transactions of ₦10 million each. The witness stated that the record of these withdrawals was contained in 251 pages of UBA bank statements tendered in evidence before the court.
The fourth prosecution witness, Jesutomi Akonni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, also testified regarding the account statement of one Moses Wanzo, marked Exhibit H. Akonni told the court that on February 22, 2016, a cash deposit of ₦15 million was made into Wanzo’s account by Abdulwahab Sabo, while Shehu Bello made subsequent deposits of ₦20 million and ₦19 million on March 21 and March 30, 2016, respectively.
During proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, J.B. Dauda, SAN, raised an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the issue must be determined before the case could proceed further.
Responding, Pinheiro opposed the application, describing it as a delay tactic, noting that the case had been ongoing for over a year.
Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to Thursday, October 9, 2025, for continuation of trial.