By Nkechi Eze
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud continued before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendering additional bank records as evidence.
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering. According to the EFCC, the charges relate to misappropriation of public funds involving multiple transactions across different accounts linked to government agencies and private companies.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, resumed with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank. PW6 testified to multiple entries in Exhibit S1, a bank statement showing transactions involving the defendants. Among the entries, he highlighted a ₦10 million cheque collected by Abdulsalami Hudu and a ₦2,454,400 payment to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. He explained that while he could verify the entries, he could not testify to the purpose for which the funds were spent.
Further cross-examination by counsel for the first and second defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN, focused on the account structure, including the eight columns of the statement and the description of transactions. PW6 confirmed multiple transfers, including a ₦74,378,483.20 inflow from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on 6 December 2016, and subsequent withdrawals of ₦10 million to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau. He also identified repeated inflows labeled as “Police Reform Programme” or “payment of security fund,” amounting to millions of naira across various dates in 2016.
Counsel for the third defendant, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, questioned whether the transactions reflected routine duties of the accountant involved. PW6 clarified that he could not testify to the role of the third defendant in executing the withdrawals, prompting an objection from the prosecution, which the court sustained. The witness further confirmed the signatories to the Government House account, including Chris Onyepola (Permanent Secretary), Onyechukwu Daniel L. (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant).
Following PW6, the prosecution called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, an executive trainee at Keystone Bank. Under subpoena, he tendered statements of account for Dantata and Sawoe Construction for 2021, along with certificates of identification and subpoenas, all admitted into evidence. PW7 confirmed multiple entries, including transfers of ₦10 million by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak between February 17 and 22, 2021, totaling ₦100 million.
The prosecution then called Prosecution Witness Eight (PW8), Gabriel Ocha, a compliance officer with FCMB. He tendered statements covering Kunfayakun Global Limited from 2018 to 2024, including multiple web transfers of ₦10 million, ₦25,959,000, and other sums to various beneficiaries. PW9, A.D. Ojoma of Sterling Bank, followed, presenting statements of account for Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, including transactions exceeding ₦57 million and multiple credits from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
Throughout the proceedings, defense counsel continued cross-examinations, focusing on clarifying transaction purposes, verifying account signatories, and challenging the interpretation of banking records. Notably, questions were raised on entries labeled “sec fund” and “His Excellency Special Sec Vote,” with witnesses stating they could verify the amounts but not the intended purpose of the disbursed funds.
Justice Anineh subsequently adjourned the trial to Friday, 16 January 2026, for continuation of proceedings.
The trial highlights the EFCC’s detailed tracing of financial flows through multiple banks, accounts, and witnesses, underscoring the meticulous documentation of alleged misappropriated funds in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile corruption cases involving a former state governor.
