The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, resumed on Wednesday before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendering new evidence of multiple suspicious cash withdrawals allegedly linked to the Kogi State Government accounts.

Bello is facing a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion alongside Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Shuaibu Oricha.

During the proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Bata — a compliance officer with Zenith Bank — continued his testimony under the lead examination of EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN). Bata provided detailed records of transactions from the Kogi State Government House account between February 2016 and February 2018, involving the second defendant, Hudu.

According to the witness, several withdrawals of ₦10 million each were made from the account, amounting to ₦1.09 billion as of February 2, 2018. On inflows, Bata noted deposits including ₦50 million from the Kogi State statutory revenue account on August 2, 2016; another ₦50 million from Idhu Integrated Services on August 9; and ₦15.5 million from the state’s Ministry of Finance on August 10.

The court adjourned further hearing to allow cross-examination of the witness as the EFCC continues its effort to link the transactions to alleged acts of corruption by the defendants.

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