ABUJA, Oct. 8, 2025 (Chatnewstv.com) — A prosecution witness on Wednesday told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama how billions of naira were allegedly siphoned from the Kogi State government’s accounts through serial cheque withdrawals linked to associates of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion.
Testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh, the third prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), detailed multiple withdrawals that allegedly drained government accounts.
“On December 12, 2018, there were 10 debit transactions through cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalami Hudu — ₦10 million each, totaling ₦100 million,” Williams told the court while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
She continued, “On January 4, 2019, there were four cheque withdrawals in favour of Hudu — ₦10 million, ₦8.5 million, ₦7.35 million, and ₦4.15 million. On January 8, 2019, three more withdrawals followed — ₦8 million, ₦6.5 million, and ₦5.5 million.”
Williams said the pattern continued through early 2019, with multiple ₦10 million cheque withdrawals on January 11, 16, and 21; February 20; March 7; and May 27 — each totaling ₦100 million per batch.
“In the seven days between July 31 and August 6, 2019, there were 64 transactions of ₦10 million each in the Government House account, amounting to ₦640 million,” she added.
The withdrawals, she said, were documented in 251 pages of UBA bank statements tendered to the court.
The fourth prosecution witness, Jesutomi Akonni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, also testified, presenting the account statement of one Moses Wanzo, marked Exhibit H.
“On February 22, 2016, there was a cash deposit of ₦15 million by Abdulwahab Sabo,” Akonni said. “On March 21, 2016, Shehu Bello deposited ₦20 million into Wanzo’s account and ₦19 million again on March 30, 2016.”
Counsel to the first defendant, J.B. Dauda, SAN, noted that the prosecution plans to call 16 witnesses but raised a pending application on jurisdiction filed on September 26, arguing that it must be resolved before further proceedings.
In response, Pinheiro said the jurisdiction challenge was “self-serving” and intended to delay the case. “This matter has been ongoing for a year now. The defence suddenly raising jurisdiction at this stage is merely tactical delay,” he told the court.
Justice Anineh adjourned the case to Thursday, October 9, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
