The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has submitted additional bank documents in the ongoing ₦110.4 billion fraud trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, intensifying prosecution efforts at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
The new evidence was tendered on Thursday before Justice Maryanne Anineh during the resumed hearing of the high-profile case, which also involves two co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The trio is facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering linked to the massive public funds.
At the January 15, 2026 proceedings, the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the session was scheduled for the continuation of cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
During cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness was questioned on entries contained in Exhibit S1, a bank statement previously admitted in evidence. Bata explained that transaction descriptions reflected cheque payments and transfers but maintained that he could not determine the purposes of specific withdrawals or payments listed in the records.
He identified several transactions, including a ₦10 million cheque issued to Abdulsalami Hudu and another payment of ₦2.45 million made to a hotel in Lokoja, stressing that the bank documents did not disclose how the funds were ultimately used.
Further testimony revealed multiple credits and withdrawals from accounts allegedly linked to the Kogi State Government, including a ₦74.3 million transfer from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and subsequent cheque payments to individuals.
Under questioning by counsel to the third defendant, Z.B. Abbas, the witness confirmed that all withdrawals made by the third defendant were conducted via cheques and duly authorized by recognized signatories. He also verified that one of the exhibits presented was the statement of account for the Government House account domiciled with Zenith Bank.
The court later adjourned the matter to a later date for the continuation of trial, as the EFCC continues to build its case against the former governor and his co-accused.
