Osun

EFCC Presents Fresh Evidence in Yahaya Bello’s N110.4bn Fraud Trial

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedJanuary 16, 2026

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday submitted new bank records in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Bello is facing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving about N110.4 billion.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryanne Anineh, the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, presented its sixth witness (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a Zenith Bank compliance officer, for further cross-examination.

During cross-examination, Joseph Daudu, counsel for Bello and Oricha, questioned Bata on exhibit S1, a statement of account earlier tendered by the prosecution.

Bata explained that the “description” column in the statement reflected transaction narrations.

He drew attention to entries including a January 20, 2016 transaction reading: “Cq 158 Abdulsalami Hudu for N10,000,000” and another showing a payment of N2,454,400 to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja.

Bata said he could not determine the purpose or use of the funds.

Daudu also asked about exhibit X1, which Bata identified as the account-opening package for a company with account number 1014878995, domiciled at Zenith Bank’s Lokoja branch.

On queries about transactions between specific dates, Bata said the records he had started from November 14, 2016, not March as suggested by the defence.

The witness further explained entries dated December 6, 2016, which included a N74,378,483.20 transfer from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and two N10 million payments to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau, noting that the purpose of these transactions was not specified.

Bata was also cross-examined by Z.B. Abbas, counsel to Hudu, who confirmed that all withdrawals by the third defendant were by cheque with proper authorisation.

Abbas further established that exhibit X1 represented the government house account and that Hudu was introduced to the bank as a civil servant and accountant.

The judge adjourned the case to January 16 for the continuation of the trial.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.