₦110.4bn Fraud Trial: EFCC Tenders Fresh Bank Records as Yahaya Bello’s Case Continues in Abuja
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged ₦110.4 billion fr@ud continued on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered additional b@nk records in evidence.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust and m0ney l@undering before Justice MaryAnne Anenih.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), continued the cross-examination of Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith B@nk. The witness testified on transaction details contained in statements of account earlier admitted by the c0urt.
According to Bata, the records included a ₦10 million cheque issued to Abdulsalami Hudu on January 20, 2016, and a ₦2.45 million p@yment made to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. He stated that he was not aware of the specific purposes of the transactions.
He also testified on other entries, including a ₦74.37 million credit from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in December 2016, as well as a ₦10 million cheque issued to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau.
The EFCC further presented another witness, Gabriel Ocha, a compliance officer with First City Monument B@nk (FCMB), who tendered documents linked to Kunfayakun Global Limited covering transactions between 2018 and 2024.
Ocha highlighted several transactions, including a ₦30 million p@yment to the American International School and multiple ₦10 million transfers recorded in November 2021.
Another witness, A.D. Ojoma, a compliance officer with Sterling B@nk, also tendered the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, identifying large credits from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in 2019.
Following the proceedings, Justice MaryAnne Anenih adjourned the case to January 16, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, Pastor Tunde Bakare has called for urgent personal and institutional reforms to tackle what he described as deep-rooted c0rruption within Nigeria’s justice system. Similarly, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Prof. Salisu Usman, advocated stiffer punishment, including c@pital penalties, for c0rruption-related offences, stressing the need for stronger deterrence.
