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₦110.4 Billion Scandal: Witness Reveals Shocking Pattern of Withdrawals From Kogi Treasury.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday presented fresh evidence before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the anti-graft agency revealed a series of suspicious and repeated cash withdrawals allegedly carried out from Kogi State Government House accounts between 2016 and 2018. Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
During the resumed hearing, the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, detailed before the court how huge sums were withdrawn in rapid succession by the second defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu. Bata, who testified under subpoena, presented the court with several entries from bank records showing numerous large withdrawals within short intervals.
He told the court that on February 12, 2016, Hudu made 21 withdrawals totaling ₦200 million. Similar patterns were recorded on multiple occasions, including March 10, 2016, when ₦100 million was withdrawn in batches, and in June 2016, when ₦319 million was taken out over three separate days.
The witness further disclosed that between July and August 2016, the withdrawals continued consistently, often following inflows from Kogi State revenue accounts or related ministries. On August 2, 2016, ₦50 million was credited from the state’s statutory revenue account, followed by ₦50 million from Idhu Integrated Services and ₦15.5 million from the Ministry of Finance.
Bata revealed that on August 31, 2016, there were 21 withdrawals totaling ₦188.7 million, and on October 27 of the same year, another 21 withdrawals were made amounting to ₦188.2 million. The witness also stated that on December 21, 2016, forty separate withdrawals were executed on the same day by the same individual.
The bank official went on to testify that the trend continued through 2017 and 2018. On May 9, 2017, ₦203.2 million was withdrawn in 29 transactions, while on November 1, 2017, ₦200 million was taken through 20 withdrawals. The following year, between January 30 and February 2, 2018, ₦1.09 billion was withdrawn in just four days.
He also confirmed that on November 14, 2016, the account balance dropped to zero, but shortly after, new inflows began, including ₦74.3 million on December 6, followed by transfers and payments to individuals and firms such as Echies Designs and Cost Associate Limited and Efab Properties.
The EFCC also tendered evidence of international transactions, including transfers to accounts allegedly linked to Bello’s relatives for school payments in the United States. The witness confirmed debit entries amounting to $42,170 and $78,160 made to the American International School, Abuja, in the names of Naima Ohunene Bello and Fatima Oziohu Bello.
At the close of his testimony, defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, requested an adjournment to enable the lead defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, to study the witness’s testimony before cross-examination. However, EFCC’s lead counsel, Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defence had no valid grounds for delay.
Justice Anineh, after considering both arguments, granted a short adjournment “in the interest of justice” and fixed further hearing for Thursday, November 13, 2025.
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