The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, November 10, 2025, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of hearing in the alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud case.
Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the proceedings, which featured continued cross-examination of prosecution witness PW4, Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, and testimonies from three additional bank officials from Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion and misappropriation of Kogi State funds during his tenure as governor.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke in multiples of ₦10 million. He also listed a number of hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels, as beneficiaries of transactions from the account.
After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.
The fifth prosecution witness (PW5), Jesutoni Akoni of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, testified under subpoena, producing the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29. She identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, ranging from ₦3 million to ₦20 million.
Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank and the sixth witness (PW6), also testified, tendering the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31. He revealed that between February 17 and 22, 2021, ₦100 million was transferred into the account by individuals identified as Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak.
The day’s proceedings ended with testimony from Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who appeared as the seventh prosecution witness (PW7). Egoro presented 12 sets of documents in compliance with a subpoena and explained that while some account-opening documents could not be retrieved, the bank supplied customer details extracted from its database.
Following the testimonies, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
