
Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Fresh revelations have surfaced at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, where the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, narrated how millions of naira were withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House account through multiple transactions allegedly linked to one of the defendants.
Also see...Critics Condemn Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello for Interfering in State Assembly https://www.stonereportersnews.com/politics/2669650_critics-condemn-former-kogi-governor-yahaya-bello-for-interfering-in-state-assembly.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello 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.
Testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh, the witness, Mshelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, appeared on subpoena to tender bank statements for several accounts connected to the case. These include accounts belonging to the Kogi State Government House, Macelina Njuku, Bespoque, Aleshua Solution Services, Wales Limited, and Jagaya Limited, among others.
Led in evidence by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, counsel for the EFCC, Arhyel detailed numerous cash withdrawals made in favour of Abdulsalami Hudu, the third defendant.
“On January 15, 2016, there were 10 cheque withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House account. On January 19 and February 12, 2016, several debit entries were recorded, most of them worth ₦10 million each, and all in favour of Abdulsalami Hudu,” Arhyel stated.
She added that on March 3, 2016, a total of 37 cash withdrawals, each below ₦10 million, were recorded in quick succession, suggesting a deliberate pattern of structured withdrawals to evade reporting thresholds.
The witness further revealed that on January 30 and 31, 2018, ₦757.2 million was withdrawn in two days—₦350 million on the first day and ₦357.2 million on the next—all credited to Hudu.
Testifying on the account of Aleshua Solution Services, Arhyel reported foreign currency transactions, including a $2,500 transfer from B.O. Rosemary Chukwuma and two separate $5,000 transfers to an individual identified as Yau. She also disclosed that the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service made payments amounting to ₦202.3 million on December 6, 2016, followed by ₦101 million in cash withdrawals and another ₦167 million shortly afterward.
Earlier, during the session on October 8, 2025, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank and the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), presented financial records showing substantial credit inflows into accounts belonging to SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited. She testified that ₦450 million was credited to SFC Foods Limited on December 21, 2021, while ₦150 million in ₦10 million tranches was transferred to JIT Agric Limited on December 23 and 24, 2021.
Defense counsels J.B. Dauda, SAN, and A.M. Aliyu, SAN objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents, arguing non-compliance with Sections 83, 84, and 165 of the Evidence Act. However, Pinheiro urged the court to dismiss the objection.
Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to November 12 and 13, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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