EFCC Witness Testifies on Massive Cash Withdrawals in Yahaya Bello’s Fraud Trial

New details have emerged in the ongoing fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as a prosecution witness revealed that a government official allegedly withdrew over ₦1 billion within just four days from the state’s Government House account.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trio faces a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust involving ₦110.4 billion in state funds, among other allegations. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.

How the ₦1 Billion Was Withdrawn

At Wednesday’s hearing, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank Plc, testified before the court, detailing the series of withdrawals allegedly made by Abdulsalam Hudu, one of the defendants.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Bata told the court that between January 30 and February 2, 2018, the third defendant withdrew a total of ₦1,096,444,300 in cash from the Kogi State Government House account.

“Between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2, 2018, the total cash withdrawals by Abdulsalam Hudu were ₦1,096,444,300 in four days,” Bata testified.

He gave a breakdown of the withdrawals as follows:

₦350 million on January 30, 2018

₦347.27 million on January 31, 2018

₦300 million on February 1, 2018

₦99.17 million on February 2, 2018

Pattern of Massive Withdrawals

Bata also revealed that the same account recorded several large and frequent withdrawals over the years.
He cited earlier transactions such as:

₦200 million withdrawn through 21 separate transactions on February 12, 2016

40 withdrawals made on December 21, 2016

₦203.24 million withdrawn through 21 transactions on May 9, 2017

According to him, the transactions showed “an inconsistent pattern” of withdrawals, suggesting possible irregularities in how state funds were handled.

He further mentioned that another individual, Umar Comfort Olufunke, also made withdrawals from the same account between November 2016 and April 2017.

Case Continues

Following a request for adjournment by Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN), Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned the case until Thursday for cross-examination of the witness by the defence team.

The EFCC maintains that the alleged transactions form part of a larger web of suspicious withdrawals and cash movements linked to the diversion of ₦110 billion from Kogi State Government accounts during Yahaya Bello’s tenure.