₦110.4 Billion on Trial: Inside the Explosive EFCC Bank Records Rocking Yahaya Bello’s Kogi Fraud Case
The ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has taken a dramatic and increasingly forensic turn, as Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continues to lay bare what prosecutors describe as a complex web of financial transactions allegedly linked to the misappropriation of ₦110.4 billion in public funds.
At the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anineh, the EFCC on Thursday, January 15, 2026, tendered additional bank records that prosecutors say further strengthen their case against the former governor and his co-defendants.
Yahaya Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering, offences that strike at the heart of Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with public sector corruption.
EFCC Tightens the Financial Noose
Leading the prosecution, senior advocate Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that proceedings had resumed with the continuation of cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Bata’s testimony centered on bank statements and transaction records linked to accounts allegedly associated with the Kogi State Government and individuals named in the charge sheet.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness clarified the structure of the bank statements tendered as Exhibit S1, explaining that the document contained eight columns, including dates, transaction descriptions, inflows, and outflows.
When pressed on specific transactions, the witness highlighted entries such as:
A ₦10 million cheque issued on January 20, 2016, in favour of Abdulsalami Hudu
A ₦2.45 million payment to Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja
However, Bata maintained that while he could authenticate the transactions, he could not determine their purpose, stressing that banks record movements of funds, not the intent behind them.
Government House Account Under the Microscope
The defence also drew attention to Exhibit X1, identified as the account opening documents for a Zenith Bank account domiciled in Lokoja, widely referred to in court as the Government House account.
Under questioning, the witness confirmed:
The account received a ₦74.37 million credit from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) on December 6, 2016
Multiple ₦10 million cheque withdrawals, including payments to Mohammed Jami’u Sallau
Crucially, the witness testified that transaction narrations did not specify the purpose of the payments, a recurring theme in the prosecution’s documentary evidence.
Security Votes and Special Funds Raise Eyebrows
Further testimony revealed a pattern of large inflows described as “security fund” or “special security vote”, followed almost immediately by withdrawals.
According to PW6:
₦60 million was received in six tranches from UBA, linked to a Police Reform Programme
Additional inflows of ₦50 million and ₦100 million were recorded on different dates
On September 20, 2016, two deposits of ₦10 million and ₦15 million were labeled “His Excellency Special Sec Vote”
Each inflow, the witness noted, was typically followed by rapid withdrawals, a sequence prosecutors appear keen to establish as a pattern.
Who Controlled the Account?
In a critical moment, the witness clarified that the former governor was not the sole operator of the Government House account. The authorised signatories, he said, included:
Chris Onyepola, Permanent Secretary
Onyechukwu Daniel L., Chief Accountant
Abdulsalami Hudu, Accountant
This point became central to the defence’s argument that the third defendant was merely performing routine accounting duties, a suggestion strongly opposed by the prosecution and ultimately struck out by the court.
Keystone Bank Evidence: ₦100 Million in Tranches
The EFCC then called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, an executive trainee with Keystone Bank, who appeared under subpoena.
PW7 tendered the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction for the 2021 financial year. His testimony revealed:
Multiple ₦10 million transfers between February 17 and 22, 2021
₦60 million transferred in six tranches by Maigari Murtala
Additional transfers by Yusuf Mubarak, bringing the total inflow to ₦100 million
Under cross-examination, the witness admitted he was not the account officer and had no personal knowledge of the individuals involved, a point the defence is expected to rely on later.
FCMB and Sterling Bank Records Deepen the Plot
The prosecution’s momentum continued with PW8, Gabriel Ocha, a compliance officer with FCMB, who tendered documents relating to Kunfayakun Global Limited.
Among the notable transactions highlighted were:
A ₦30 million debit to the American International School for Abdul Bashir
Multiple ₦10 million web transfers from individuals identified as Haruna Gana and Haruna Gaddafi
A ₦25.9 million NIBSS transfer from Behamas Global Ventures
Next, PW9, A.D. Ojoma of Sterling Bank, presented records linked to Bespoke Business Solutions Limited, revealing massive inflows allegedly originating from Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, including:
₦138.49 million described as NAFFS Kogi State commission
₦136.8 million tagged NAFFS Kogi State 2019
₦183.6 million for contractor payments
₦242.25 million allegedly linked to the purchase of OBPEH
Why This Trial Matters Beyond Kogi
The Yahaya Bello trial is rapidly becoming one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former Nigerian governor in recent years. Beyond the personalities involved, the proceedings raise broader questions about:
The use and abuse of security votes
Weak oversight of state government accounts
The role of banks and compliance officers in detecting suspicious transactions
Whether Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions can successfully prosecute politically powerful figures
Legal analysts note that the EFCC’s strategy appears focused on building a transaction-by-transaction narrative, allowing the court to infer intent through patterns rather than isolated payments.
What Happens Next
Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned the case to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of trial, with expectations that more witnesses and financial records will be introduced.
As the EFCC continues to tender documents spanning multiple banks, companies, and years, the stakes remain high—not just for the defendants, but for Nigeria’s credibility in confronting elite corruption.
One thing is certain: ₦110.4 billion is no longer just a number—it is now a paper trail unfolding in open court.
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