EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Court adjourns ₦80.2b alleged fraud trial to Nov 11

By Grace Edet

The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of hearing in the ₦80.2 billion fraud case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite announced the adjournment after a lengthy session that featured cross-examinations and testimonies from four bank officials subpoenaed by the court. Bello is standing trial for the alleged diversion and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government during his tenure as governor.
The EFCC, in a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, said the court session “featured the continuation of the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel, and the testimonies of three other witnesses from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank.”
The statement reads: “The defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, continued the cross-examination of Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, who earlier testified as the fourth prosecution witness.
“Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke in multiples of ₦10 million.
“He further testified that several hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels, were beneficiaries of various transactions from the account.
“After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.”
The prosecution thereafter called Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, as PW5.
“Akoni, who appeared under subpoena, produced and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, which was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.
“She identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, among others, which ranged from ₦3 million to ₦20 million.
“The Sixth Prosecution Witness, PW6, Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also appeared under subpoena. He produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31.
“He testified that between February 17 and February 22, 2021, a total of ₦100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak. He disclosed under cross-examination that he did not know Murtala and Mubarak,” the statement added.
According to the anti-graft agency, the day’s proceedings ended with the testimony of Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who appeared as PW7. He produced 12 sets of documents in compliance with a subpoena issued to the bank.
Egoro, EFCC, noted, informed the court that while some account opening packages could not be retrieved, the bank provided sufficient customer details extracted from its database.
“After clarification between the prosecution and defence, the documents were admitted in evidence without objection.
“Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial,” the statement concluded.