prosecution presents further evidence as zenith bank compliance officer continues testimony at fct high court
by wapcodehub9ja live news correspondent
reporting live from maitama, abuja, nigeria
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday, January 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission presenting additional bank records as evidence.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving the sum of ₦110.4 billion. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed proceedings, the prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the continuation of cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, who appeared before the court.
During cross-examination by J.B. Daudu, SAN, counsel to the first and second defendants, the witness was asked to clarify earlier testimony relating to Exhibit S1, a statement of account tendered by the prosecution. The witness explained that the “description” column in the statement reflected transaction details, including cheque payments and transfers.
Referring to specific entries, the witness identified a transaction dated January 20, 2016, showing a cheque payment of ₦10 million to Abdulsalami Hudu. He also pointed out another entry indicating a cheque payment of ₦2,454,400 to Halims Hotels and Tours in Lokoja. When asked if he knew the purpose of the payments, the witness stated that he could not determine how or for what purpose the funds were used.
Daudu further questioned the witness on Exhibit X1, identified as the account opening documents of a company with an account domiciled at Zenith Bank’s Lokoja branch. The witness confirmed this and clarified transaction timelines when questioned about entries spanning different dates.
Directing the witness to December 6, 2016, Daudu requested that he read out entries for that day. The witness stated that the account received a credit of ₦74,378,483.20 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, followed by cheque payments of ₦10 million to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau. He added that the narration did not specify the purpose of the payments.
Z.B. Abbas later cross-examined the witness on behalf of A.M. Aliyu, SAN, counsel to the third defendant. The witness confirmed that withdrawals made by the third defendant were by cheque and that the cheques were duly signed by authorized signatories. He also confirmed that Exhibit X1 related to a Government House account.
The witness further affirmed that documents before the court indicated the third defendant was introduced to the bank as a civil servant and an accountant.
The trial was adjourned to a later date for continuation of proceedings.
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