N110.4bn Kogi Fraud Trial Explodes As EFCC Unveils Fresh Bank Records, Details Massive Cash Movements

The high-profile trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, took a dramatic turn on Thursday, January 15, 2026, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered fresh bank records revealing extensive financial transactions allegedly linked to the N110.4 billion fraud case.
Proceedings resumed before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the prosecution presenting additional documentary evidence to support its case against Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Leading the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the session was for the continuation of the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness clarified the structure of the bank statements tendered, explaining transaction descriptions, including cheque payments of N10 million and disbursements to firms such as Halims Hotels and Tours, Lokoja. Bata maintained that he could not determine the purpose for which the funds were ultimately used.
Further probing revealed multiple high-value inflows into accounts domiciled at Zenith Bank’s Lokoja branch, including credits from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, some running into tens of millions of naira in single transactions. The witness confirmed that the statements did not state the purpose of many of the payments, noting that banking narrations alone could not establish intent.
Cross-examined by Z.B. Abbas on behalf of the third defendant, the witness confirmed that withdrawals from the Government House account were made by cheques duly signed by authorised signatories, including a permanent secretary and senior accounting officers. He also detailed several inflows tagged as “security fund” and “His Excellency Special Sec Vote,” followed by corresponding withdrawals.
The prosecution later called Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Mohammed Bello Hassan, an executive trainee with Keystone Bank, who appeared under subpoena. He tendered the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction for 2021, revealing multiple tranches of N10 million transfers, cumulatively amounting to N100 million, from individuals identified as Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak.
Another compliance officer, A.D. Ojoma of Sterling Bank, testified as Prosecution Witness Nine (PW9), presenting the statement of account of Bespoke Business Solutions Limited. He highlighted several large credits, including payments exceeding N138 million, N136 million, N183 million, and N242 million, many traced to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and described as commissions, contractor payments, and procurement-related transactions.
Despite objections by defence counsel to the admissibility of some documents, the court admitted the exhibits, with reasons for objections reserved for later stages.
At the close of proceedings, Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned the matter to Friday, January 16, 2026, for the continuation of trial, as the courtroom tension continues to build in what has become one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption cases.