By Emiola Osifeso
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial in the alleged N80.2billion fraud case brought against former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Monday’s proceedings, November 10, 2025, lasted for several hours and featured the continuation of cross-examination of witnesses, more bank documents tendered under subpoena, and further disclosures on how huge cash withdrawals and transfers were allegedly carried out while Bello served as governor.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello on allegations that he diverted and misappropriated Kogi State funds amounting to N80.2bn using a network of government accounts, proxies, and private beneficiaries.
Bello, who has consistently denied all wrongdoing, is appearing before Justice Nwite in one of the most anticipated corruption trials involving a former governor in recent Nigerian history.
During Monday’s sitting, the defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, continued his cross-examination of Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank who had earlier testified as the fourth prosecution witness.
Arhyel told the court that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account in multiple tranches of N10 million. He confirmed that two individuals, identified as Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke, were linked to these withdrawals. According to him, various hotels were also beneficiaries of multiple transactions from the same government account. He listed Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels as some of the establishments involved.
After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined to conduct any re-examination and the witness was discharged.
The prosecution then called Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, who testified as PW5. Akoni appeared under subpoena and produced statements of account belonging to a certain Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016. The statement was admitted in court as Exhibit 29. She testified that deposits ranging between N3 million and N20 million were observed in the account, made by individuals including Ileku himself, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello.
PW6, Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also appeared under subpoena. He presented the statement of account of construction giant, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31. Hassan testified that between February 17 and February 22, 2021, N100 million in total was transferred into the Dantata and Sawoe account by two individuals, identified as Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak. He however stated under cross-examination that he did not personally know the two individuals behind the huge inflow.
Monday’s hearing also featured the testimony of PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank. Egoro produced 12 sets of documents in compliance with a subpoena issued to the bank. He explained that while some account opening packages could not be retrieved due to system constraints, the bank provided sufficient customer information extracted directly from its internal database. After clarification between prosecution and defence teams, all tendered documents were accepted into evidence without objection.
The hearing, which attracted the attention of lawyers, journalists and anti-graft observers, is part of a long-running prosecution aimed at uncovering what the EFCC describes as an elaborate conspiracy involving billions in state funds. Bello’s trial is closely watched amid growing calls for accountability from Nigerians who believe the outcomes of such high-profile cases will either strengthen or weaken public trust in the fight against corruption.
At the close of proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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