No banking rules breached, witness tells court in Yahaya Bello’s ‘N110bn fraud’ trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday presented additional witnesses in the ongoing N110 billion money laundering trial of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi.

The former governor is facing trial at the high court of the federal capital territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja.

Bello, who governed Kogi state from 2016 to 2024, is standing trial alongside two former state officials—Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and laundering of public funds.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness (PW3), Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), told the court that all transactions involving the financial institution were conducted in line with established banking regulations.

Abimbola maintained that no rule was breached during the series of cash withdrawals linked to the Kogi government house account domiciled in Lokoja, the state capital.

She added that her role was to protect the bank’s integrity and ensure compliance with financial laws to avoid legal or reputational risk.

While being cross-examined by J.B. Daudu, counsel to Bello, the witness confirmed several withdrawals of N10 million each made by one of the defendants, Hudu, between July 31 and August 6, 2019, but could not state the purpose of those withdrawals.

According to her, a banker does not act as an internal auditor for customers, noting that once the payment mandate is correct, the customer has the liberty to withdraw their money.

Abimbola said transfers were also made in tranches from the same account on July 5, 2019, by one Bello Abdullateef, stressing that UBA did not violate any regulation in processing them.

She further told the court that none of the withdrawals exceeded N10 million and listed the account’s authorised signatories as of 2004 to include Christopher Enefola (permanent secretary), Onekutu Daniel (chief accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (accountant).

Under cross-examination by counsel to the third defendant, A.M. Aliyu, the witness confirmed that a N100 million credit entry described as “governor’s security fund” was paid into the account in two tranches of N50 million each.

When asked whether the funds were actually used for security purposes, she replied, “My lord, I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question”.

Abimbola also said she never met or interacted with either Bello or Oricha.

After her testimony, the EFCC called its fourth witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, who appeared under subpoena.

However, before his testimony could begin, defence lawyers objected to a 13-page document the witness intended to rely on, arguing that it was addressed to Emeka Nwite, judge of the federal high court, where a related case is pending.

Following the objection, Kemi Pinheiro, EFCC counsel, withdrew the cover letter attached to the document.

Akoni told the court that he was not familiar with the three signatories to the Ecobank account in question, adding that Hudu’s name did not appear among them.

Meanwhile, Bello’s counsel, Daudu, informed the court that the defence had filed an application challenging its jurisdiction to hear the case.

The lawyer urged the court to take up the motion before proceeding further, saying it would “save the time of the court and that of the witnesses”.

However, the EFCC counsel opposed the request, arguing that the application was not ripe for hearing.

Maryann Anenih, presiding judge, adjourned the proceedings to Thursday for continuation of trial.