By Obasola Olatunde
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendering multiple bank statements and related documents as evidence.
Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the statements of account and accompanying certificates of identification as exhibits after three compliance officers from Ecobank, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank testified for the prosecution.
Bello, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges is being prosecuted by the EFCC on allegations of diverting public funds while in office.
The first witness of the day, Jesutomi Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Plc, identified the account statements of a company linked to one Moses Ailetu, which were then tendered by EFCC counsel Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN) and admitted as Exhibit 29.
Another witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank, told the court that several withdrawals made by the Kogi State Government between December 2017 and April 2018 in tranches of ₦10 million were within Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) limits. He noted that the funds were paid to hotels and other vendors but said he could not determine their specific purposes.
During cross examination, Bata confirmed additional withdrawals by one Alhassan Omakoji between November 2021 and December 2022, saying they also complied with CBN guidelines.
A third witness, Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, presented statements of account belonging to Dantata & Sawoe, which were admitted without objection.
The day’s final witness, Olomotame Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, produced 12 sets of documents relating to the customer’s account. Defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), however, objected to the inclusion of some attachments he described as “extraneous,” leading the court to direct the prosecution to detach them.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the trial to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation.