By Wellington Jopelo
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered additional bank records as evidence.
Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, faces a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion. The case resumed with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer at Zenith Bank.
During his testimony, PW6 explained entries in several bank statements, highlighting credits and withdrawals linked to the defendants. Among the records was a ₦10 million deposit by Abdulsalami Hudu and payments to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. When asked about the purpose of the transactions, the witness stated that he could not confirm how the funds were used.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, J.B. Daudu SAN, cross-examined the witness on Exhibit X1, confirming details of multiple transactions, including a ₦74.3 million credit from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and several payments to individuals such as Mohammed Jami’u Sallau. PW6 also identified the authorized signatories to the Government House account, including Chris Onyepola, Permanent Secretary; Onyechukwu Daniel L., Chief Accountant; and Abdulsalami Hudu, Accountant.
On cross-examination by the 3rd defendant’s counsel, A.M. Aliyu SAN, the witness confirmed that all withdrawals were by cheque and signed by authorized signatories, but he objected to characterizing the third defendant’s role as merely executing duties, an objection sustained by the court.
The prosecution further called a series of witnesses from other banks. Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank, tendered statements of accounts covering Dantata and Sawoe Construction from January to December 2021. Prosecution Witness Eight (PW8), Gabriel Ocha of FCMB, tendered account documents for Kunfayakun Global Limited covering 2018 to 2024, confirming multiple high-value transfers to various recipients.
Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), A.D. Ojoma of Sterling Bank, also testified under subpoena, presenting records for Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, including a ₦138 million inflow from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on April 3, 2019, and other significant entries totaling hundreds of millions of naira.
Throughout the proceedings, the EFCC highlighted patterns of fund movement and withdrawals, linking them to the defendants, while counsel for the 3rd defendant reserved objections for later.
At the close of the day’s proceedings, Justice Anineh adjourned the trial to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation, with the prosecution expected to call further witnesses.
The trial, which has drawn nationwide attention, underscores the EFCC’s commitment to investigating alleged large-scale financial crimes and holding public officials accountable.