The trial of the immediate past Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, resumed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, with the third prosecution witness testifying that N640 million was withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House account in 64 tranches of N10m within six days.
The witness, Ms. Abimbola Williams, a bank’s Compliance Officer, told the court that the withdrawals were made through 64 cheque transactions of N10m each by the former Chief Accountant at the Kogi Government House, Abdulsalami Hudu, between July 31 and August 6, 2019.
Bello, Hudu, and the Director-General of the Kogi Government House Administration, Shaibu Oricha, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Maryanne Anenih for alleged fraud involving N110.4bn.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Williams confirmed a series of withdrawals linked to Hudu.
“Between July 31 and August 6, 2019, the total amount of cash withdrawn in six days by the third defendant was 64 transactions of N10m each, amounting to N640m,” she said.
During cross-examination by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the witness confirmed that she had previously testified in a related matter at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
She clarified that although she served as the bank’s Compliance Officer, she was not the Relationship Manager or Account Officer handling the daily operations of the account.
Williams told the court that customers were free to withdraw any amount as long as proper mandates were followed.
“As a Compliance Officer, I am allowed to work in any branch,” she added, noting that she reported for duty that morning at her bank’s branch on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Responding to further questions, the witness explained that while the bank requires customers to state the purpose of high-value transfers, it does not make such enquiries for cash withdrawals.
She also emphasised that the bank did not breach any financial regulations in allowing the transactions.
She listed the authorised signatories on the Kogi Government House account as of 2004 as Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant), and later, in 2008, Elder P.S. Ocheni, Abbas Ibrahim Abubakar, and Hudu.
Under cross-examination by counsel for the third defendant, A.M. Aliyu, Williams confirmed seeing a credit entry described as “Governor’s Security Fund” in the bank statement.
When asked whether the withdrawn funds were used for security purposes, she replied, “My Lord, I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question.”
After Williams’ testimony, the EFCC called its fourth subpoenaed witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a Compliance Officer with another bank.
Akoni tendered a 13-page document detailing cash deposits into a Kogi Government account, including N3m by Moses Wanzu, N15m by Abdulwahab Sabo, and N20m by Shehu Bello — totalling about N57m.
However, Aliyu objected to the admissibility of the document, arguing that it did not comply with the provisions of the Evidence Act.
Under cross-examination, Akoni said she did not know the defendants personally or the source and purpose of the funds.
The prosecution later called its fifth witness, another banker identified as Mrs. Victoria Oluwafemi.
Earlier, Daudu informed the court of a pending application challenging the court’s jurisdiction and urged Justice Anenih to take the motion before continuing with witness examination.
“We urge Your Lordship to give us a date so we can address the issue of jurisdiction,” he said.
But Pinheiro opposed the request, insisting the application was not ripe for hearing. “We’ve been in court for over a year, and now they are raising jurisdiction. The matter can wait until November 12,” he argued.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 9, 2025, for continuation of trial.
