The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, on allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of ₦110.4 billion, continued on Wednesday, November 13, 2025, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on fraud, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving funds allegedly belonging to the Kogi State Government.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel Yahaya Abdullahi, SAN, representing the first and second defendants, cross-examined the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank. Bata had earlier testified on Tuesday, narrating a pattern of multiple and persistent cash withdrawals from the Kogi State Government accounts domiciled with the bank.
During cross-examination, Abdullahi requested the court to produce Exhibit S1 — the statement of account of the Kogi State Government House — which the witness confirmed. Responding to the counsel’s questions, Bata affirmed that every account has a relationship officer who maintains a close working relationship with the account holders.
At this point, lead defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, arrived and took over the cross-examination. He directed the witness’s attention to Exhibit S2, which contained the mandate of the signatories to the account. Bata confirmed that the account was opened around 2005, with initial signatories including Chris Onyepola, Onyechukwu Daniel L., and Abdulsalami Hudu.
He further explained that over the years, new signatories were added to the account, listing Oricha Umar Shuaibu (introduced in 2016), Ahmed Idris (2018), and Alhassan Omakoji (2019) as subsequent additions.
When questioned on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) withdrawal limits at the time, Bata stated that the withdrawal limit for corporate accounts was ₦10 million, while individuals were limited to ₦500,000. He also confirmed that only authorised signatories could make consistent withdrawals from the account, and that such individuals were formally recognised by the bank.
Daudu then referred the witness to an entry dated December 15, 2017, asking him to identify the beneficiary of multiple ₦10 million withdrawals. Bata replied, “On the 15th of December 2017, Umar Comfort Olufunke made 19 withdrawals totaling ₦119 million. Of the total, eight were in the name ‘Umar Comfort,’ seven as ‘Umar Comfort Olufunke,’ and four as ‘Umar Comfort O.’”
The defence counsel sought clarification on the variations in the names, prompting an objection from EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who argued that the question was speculative and contrary to the Evidence Act. Justice Anineh upheld the objection, ruling that the question, in its current form, could lead to speculative testimony.
In her ruling, Justice Anineh stated: “Asking the witness ‘who’ is where the problem lies, because he would then have to speak beyond the document.” Pinheiro added that the witness’s evidence must align strictly with the contents of the document unless rephrased to avoid assumptions.
Clarifying his testimony, Bata told the court, “I need to explain something, my lord. I’m speaking not of myself but from a document. Even if another person testifies, the same information will be derived from it. To determine if the names belong to one person, an introduction letter or supporting document would be required.”
Following the exchanges, Justice Anineh adjourned the case to January 15 and 16, and February 10, 11, as well as March 11 and 12, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
The case, one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former state governor, continues to attract national attention as the EFCC seeks to prove allegations of massive financial misappropriation during Bello’s tenure as governor of Kogi State.
