The ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello over an alleged N110.4 billion fraud took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as a Zenith Bank compliance officer exposed a pattern of suspicious high-value cash withdrawals from state government accounts, including over N1 billion siphoned in just four days.
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Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2024, is facing a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is being tried alongside two former state officials, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, before Justice Maryanne Anineh.
Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, painted a picture of systematic cash extractions linked to the Kogi State Government House accounts between 2016 and 2018. Led by EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Bata detailed how funds from statutory revenues and ministries were funneled into the accounts only to be rapidly withdrawn in cash, often in multiple tranches of N10 million each.
Key highlights from Bata’s testimony include:
- February 12, 2016: Hudu, the third defendant and a former cashier, executed 21 cash withdrawals totaling N200 million.
- March to June 2016: Similar patterns emerged on March 10, June 3, June 8, and June 10, with sums ranging from N100 million to N119 million per session.
- July-August 2016: Consistent withdrawals by Hudu from July 8 to 29, continuing into August. Notable inflows preceded these: N50 million from Kogi State’s statutory revenue account on August 2; N50 million from Idhu Integrated Services on August 9; and N15.5 million from the Ministry of Finance on August 10. Withdrawals followed swiftly, including N188.7 million on August 31 and N188.2 million on October 27.
- December 21, 2016: Hudu made 40 separate withdrawals from the account.
- 2017 Patterns: On May 9, 29 withdrawals totaled N203.24 million; October 12 saw 36 withdrawals; and November 1 involved 20 withdrawals amounting to N200 million. Bata also noted N202 million inflow from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on April 21, followed by N167 million in cash withdrawals, and a N261.8 million deposit on August 14, after which N70 million was transferred to Efab Properties.
- January 30 to February 2, 2018: In a stark escalation, over N1.09 billion was withdrawn across four days, including N350 million on January 30 and N347.27 million on January 31 alone, bringing the four-day total to N1.10 billion in multiple N10 million tranches.
Bata further revealed that the suspicious activity extended beyond Hudu. Another individual, Umar Olufunke, conducted withdrawals in November and December 2016, as well as from January to April 2017.
The witness confirmed the prosecution’s tendering of bank statements from entities such as Whales Oil and Gas and Alyeshua Solutions Services. These accounts facilitated dollar-denominated transfers, including $120,330 paid to the American International School in Abuja on behalf of Bello’s relatives, Naima Ohunene Bello and Fatima Oziohu Bello.
“My lord, I can confirm numerous cash withdrawals made by Abdulsalami Hudu, which are in an inconsistent pattern,” Bata told the court, emphasizing the rapid inflows and outflows that raised red flags under banking compliance protocols.
The testimony prompted a procedural skirmish. Defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, representing Bello, sought an adjournment to allow lead counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, who arrived late, to review the evidence for cross-examination. Pinheiro opposed the request, insisting, “EFCC is a serious agency; we are consistent with our witnesses and ready to proceed every day to conclude this matter.”
Justice Anineh, while cautioning against routine delays, granted the request in the interest of justice. The trial was adjourned to Thursday, November 13, 2025, for cross-examination and continuation.
Bello, who has denied the charges, was not present in court, having been granted bail earlier in the proceedings. The case underscores ongoing EFCC efforts to probe alleged financial misconduct during his tenure, with the anti-graft agency alleging the defendants diverted state funds through a web of cash transactions and illicit transfers.
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