EFCC Witnesses Admit Massive Kogi Govt Account Withdrawals, Say Yahaya Bello Not a Beneficiary
Three prosecution witnesses called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have acknowledged that substantial cash withdrawals were made from bank accounts linked to the Kogi State Government House Administration, but maintained that former governor Yahaya Bello did not benefit from any of the transactions.
The witnesses — Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank, Mohammed Hassan of Keystone Bank, and Gabriel Oche of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) — testified on Thursday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in the ongoing trial of Bello and two other defendants over alleged corruption. PulseNets learnt that their testimonies formed a central part of the EFCC’s evidentiary presentation for the day.
During proceedings, the bankers tendered multiple documents from their respective institutions, including account opening packages and detailed statements showing repeated withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration accounts. The documents were admitted as exhibits by the court.
However, after reviewing the records in open court, all three witnesses confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in the documents — neither as a signatory nor as a recipient of the withdrawn funds. PulseNets obtained that this point was repeatedly emphasized during cross-examination.
While responding to questions from Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to the former governor, Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank stated that a careful examination of the bank statements yielded no link to Bello as a beneficiary. He also clarified that the purpose of the withdrawals could not be inferred from the documents alone.
“From the records before the court, I did not see the name of Yahaya Bello as a beneficiary of any of the withdrawals,” Bata told the court, adding that the pattern of withdrawals appeared consistent over time.
The Zenith Bank official further identified Chris Enefola, a former Permanent Secretary; Onekutu Daniel, a Chief Accountant; and Abdulsalami Hudu, an Accountant, as the authorized signatories to the accounts.
Another prosecution witness, Mohammed Hassan of Keystone Bank, spoke to PulseNets through his testimony that his evidence related specifically to the Dantata and Sawoe accounts. He explained that he was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager for the accounts in question and therefore lacked direct knowledge of their day-to-day operations.
Similarly, Gabriel Oche of FCMB testified that several payments were made to the American International School, Abuja, via an account belonging to Kunfayakun Global Limited. However, he distanced himself from the account holders, stating that he had no personal or professional relationship with any of the signatories.
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“Based on the documents provided by my bank, the names of Yahaya Bello and the other defendants do not feature in these transactions,” Oche told the court.
PulseNets reported that legal representation at Thursday’s hearing included Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, for the EFCC; Joseph Daudu, SAN, for Yahaya Bello and Umar Shuaib Oricha; while Z. E. Abbass appeared for Abdulsalami Hudu.
At the close of proceedings, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the matter to January 16 for continuation of trial.
