Alleged Fraud: Bello’s Name Not Involved In Account Opening, Withdrawals, EFCC Witness Tells Court
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing alleged money laundering case against the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to Friday, March 7, 2025, for the continuation of trial.
On Thursday, during the court proceedings, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, called its witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with United Bank for Africa Plc. The witness confirmed that the bank had been served a subpoena requesting the production of the statement of account for Maselina Njoku, spanning January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. This subpoena was marked as Exhibit 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite.
Abimbola explained that there were 10 withdrawals, each totaling ₦10 million, made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu on December 12, 2018. These withdrawals were done via cheques at the bank’s counter. However, under cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Abimbola confirmed that the name of Yahaya Bello was not involved in the opening or management of the Kogi Government House account, which is located in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Daudu, SAN, further pressed the witness on whether Yahaya Bello’s name appeared on any of the account-opening documents or the statement of accounts. The witness firmly responded that his name did not appear anywhere in the account documentation or the statements.
When questioned about her duties as a compliance officer, Abimbola affirmed that part of her role was to safeguard the integrity of the bank from legal, financial, or reputational harm. Additionally, she provided details about the three signatories to the account, confirming the identity of Alhaji Yakubu Ismail, the Permanent Secretary.
During a re-examination by EFCC counsel, the witness was asked to recognize a signature on a document, which she initially did not acknowledge but later admitted under questioning. This admission was challenged by Daudu, SAN, who argued that the witness had incorrectly identified the signature, asserting his right to further cross-examine the witness on the matter.
Another witness, Nicholas Ohehomon from the American International School, was also presented by the prosecution. He confirmed the admission of the defendant’s children into the school, supported by the submission of relevant documents such as admission letters, payment receipts, and contractual agreements for school fees.
The court then adjourned to Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10 AM for the continuation of the trial.
