“Zenith Bank Staff Reveals ₦110B Withdrawals From Kogi Govt Accounts”

The trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello continued on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)presenting further evidence of suspicious cash withdrawals allegedly linked to Kogi State Government accounts.

Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge involving criminal breach of trust and money laundering, reportedly totaling ₦110.4 billion.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, provided detailed evidence of repeated large withdrawals from the accounts of the second defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu, spanning 2016 to 2018.

Bata, led by prosecution counsel Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, confirmed multiple withdrawals on various dates. Notable transactions include:

• February 12, 2016: 21 withdrawals totaling ₦200 million

• March 10, 2016: Multiple withdrawals amounting to ₦100 million

• June 3–10, 2016: Withdrawals ranging from ₦100 million to ₦119 million

• July–October 2016: Consistent multiple withdrawals, including ₦188 million on October 27, 2016

• January–February 2018: Four days of withdrawals totaling over ₦1.09 billion

The witness also detailed inflows from the Kogi State revenue account and other sources, which were promptly followed by substantial withdrawals by Hudu and others.

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Further evidence included transactions involving USD accounts linked to Whales Oil and Gas and Alyeshua Solutions Services, with funds allegedly transferred to American International School accounts for individuals connected to the defendants.

Following the testimony, defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, requested an adjournment to allow lead counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, time to review the detailed evidence before cross-examination. The prosecution opposed the request.

Presiding Justice Maryanne Anineh granted the adjournment in the interest of justice, scheduling cross-examination and continuation of the trial for Thursday, November 13, 2025.

The EFCC continues to allege a pattern of systematic diversion of state funds, a case that has drawn significant attention due to the sheer volume of money involved and its potential impact on public trust.