By Desire Emmanuel
The third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Abimbola Williams, on Wednesday, October 8, told Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, how funds were diverted from the Kogi State government’s coffers through massive cash withdrawals.
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 to the tune of N110.4 billion.
While being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the witness, who is a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA) stated that “On 12 December 2018, there were 10 debit transactions through cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu.
“The 10 withdrawals were to the tune of N10 million each, amounting to N100 million. On 4th January 2019, there were four cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu. We have N10 million, N8.5 million, N7.350 million and N4.150 million. On 8th January 2019, there were three cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu, N8 million, N6.5 million, N5.5 million.
Revealing further, she stated that “On 11th January 2019, there were five cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu, N10 million. On 16th January 2019, there were five cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu at N10 million each. On 21st January 2019, five cheque were presented in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu. N10m each resulting in N100m. On 20th February 2019, there were five cheque withdrawals in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu at N10 million each.
“On 7th March 2019, there were 10 cheque withdrawals of N10 million each in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu, amounting to N100m in total. On 27th May 2019, 10 cheques were issued in favour of Abdulsalam Gudu, amounting to N100 million.
“In the seven days between 31 July and 6 August 2019, 64 transactions at N10 million each took place in the Government House account, amounting to N640 million.”
The record of withdrawals, according to her, were contained in 251 pages of bank statements with the UBA.
The fourth prosecution witness, Jesutomi Akonni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, while being led in evidence by Pinheiro, testified on the account statement of Moses Wanzo, marked Exhibit H.
According to her: “On 22 February 2016, there was a cash deposit of N15 million by Abdulwahab Sabo; on 21st March 2016, Shehu Bello deposited N20 million into Wanzo’s account and deposited N19 million in the same account on 30th March 2016.”
Counsel to the first defendant, J.B Dauda, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, while noting that the prosecution was ready to call 16 witnesses in the course of the trial, drew the attention of the court to a pending application on the issue of jurisdiction filed by the defence on September 26, 2025, arguing that the issue of jurisdiction should be dealt with before the matter proceeds further.
Pinheiro, in his response, stated that the matter has been on for one year now, noting that it was self-serving for the defence to come up with the matter of jurisdiction at this point, dismissing it entirely as a tactic to delay progress in the trial.
The matter continues tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, 2025.
