The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Monday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with fresh testimonies from several bank officials as prosecution witnesses.
Bello is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of diversion and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi State government during his tenure as governor.
Monday’s proceedings featured the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, as well as the testimonies of three other witnesses from Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank.
During cross-examination, Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke, often in multiples of ₦10 million.
He also testified that several hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels, received payments from the same account.
After Arhyel’s testimony, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.
The prosecution then called Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, who appeared under subpoena as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5). Akoni presented and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, which the court admitted as Exhibit 29.
She identified multiple deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, ranging between ₦3 million and ₦20 million.
Next on the stand was Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, who testified as the sixth prosecution witness (PW6). Hassan, also under subpoena, produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, admitted as Exhibit 31.
He told the court that between February 17 and 22, 2021, a total of ₦100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak, though he admitted during cross-examination that he did not personally know the two individuals.
The day’s session concluded with the testimony of Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who appeared as the seventh prosecution witness (PW7). Egoro presented 12 sets of documents in response to a subpoena.
He informed the court that while some account-opening packages were unavailable, sufficient customer data was retrieved from the bank’s database. After clarifications between the prosecution and defence, the documents were admitted into evidence without objection.
At the close of proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the trial until Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation.
