110.4bn Fraud Trial: EFCC Tenders Fresh Bank Records Against Yahaya Bello
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over the alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud continued on Thursday, January 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendering additional bank records as evidence.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the day’s proceedings were for the continuation of cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, PW6 explained entries in various statements of account, noting that the “description” column merely reflected transaction narrations and did not disclose the purpose of payments. He maintained that he could not determine how funds paid to individuals or companies were eventually used.
Further questioning focused on multiple inflows and withdrawals, including transfers from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, payments described as “security fund,” and withdrawals made by the third defendant. The witness confirmed that withdrawals were made by cheque and duly signed by authorised signatories.
Cross-examined by Z.B. Abbas on behalf of the third defendant, PW6 confirmed that the Government House account had multiple signatories and that the third defendant was introduced to the bank as an accountant. An attempt to suggest that the third defendant merely acted in his official capacity was objected to by the prosecution and upheld by the court.
Following his discharge, the EFCC called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank, who tendered the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction. He testified to multiple ₦10 million transfers made in February 2021, amounting to ₦100 million.
Prosecution Witness Eight (PW8), Gabriel Ocha of FCMB, also testified, presenting records of Kunfayakun Global Limited, including transfers linked to school fees and other transactions in November 2021.
The EFCC further called Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), A.D. Ojoma of Sterling Bank, who identified several large credit entries into Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, including payments from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service running into hundreds of millions of naira.
Justice Anineh adjourned the case to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of trial.
