EFCC Witness Defends Kogi Government Fund Withdrawals
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) faced another challenge in its money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, as a key prosecution witness reaffirmed that fund withdrawals by the state government did not breach any banking law.
During cross-examination before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, also reiterated that the former governor’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the accounts presented as evidence.
Ex-Governor’s Name Excluded from Transactions
The witness had previously confirmed at the last hearing that the former governor was neither a signatory to nor connected with any of the accounts presented as evidence. On Monday, the witness admitted that, after reviewing Exhibit 22A, from pages 24 to 413, Yahaya Bello was not listed on any of the documents as a beneficiary of any transaction.
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Defence Counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, highlighted withdrawals made by individuals other than the prosecution’s main focus, Abdulsalam Hudu, the Cashier of Kogi State Government House. Mshelia confirmed withdrawals by one Umar Comfort Olufunke and Alhassan Omakoji, both in multiples of N10 million or less, which he said were in line with limits set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The witness admitted he was not aware of any law regulating how the Kogi State Government spends its money or allocation and could not discern the purpose of the transactions beyond beneficiaries like the hotels.
Other Witnesses Corroborate Non-Involvement
Following Mshelia, the fifth prosecution witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a Compliance Officer with Ecobank Plc, was cross-examined. He confirmed cash deposits by Moses Ailetu companies, totaling N57 million.
When questioned by Daudu, SAN, Akoni confirmed that none of the deposits he identified carried the name of Yahaya Bello. Akoni also admitted that it was not possible to discern the source of funds from the face of the documents.
The trial also saw the introduction of a sixth witness from Keystone Bank, Mohammed Bello Hassan, and a seventh witness from Access Bank, Olomotame Egoro. The defense successfully moved for the removal of certain “extraneous documents” from the exhibits tendered by the seventh witness.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
By PRNigeria
