The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud, resumed on Monday, November 10, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting multiple witnesses to strengthen its case.
The court, after a long day of proceedings, adjourned the matter till Tuesday, November 11, for continuation of trial.
Bello, who governed Kogi State between 2016 and 2024, is facing trial for alleged diversion and misappropriation of state funds running into ₦80.2 billion.
The EFCC alleges that the former governor, in concert with others, moved huge sums from the state treasury through various bank accounts and proxy companies.
The proceedings were dominated by testimonies from banking officials summoned by the court to tender financial records linked to the transactions under probe.
During cross-examination, the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, confirmed that large cash withdrawals, mostly in tranches of ₦10 million were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by individuals identified as Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke.
Arhyel also revealed that several hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites and Hope Confluence Hotels, benefited from multiple payments originating from the government’s account.
Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opted not to re-examine the witness, allowing him to be discharged after the defence’s cross-examination.
Subsequently, the EFCC called three more bank officials; Jesutoni Akoni of Ecobank Nigeria, Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank and Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank, who all appeared under subpoena and produced documents detailing suspicious financial transactions.
Akoni, the fifth prosecution witness, tendered the statement of account belonging to one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, revealing deposits ranging from ₦3 million to ₦20 million by individuals such as Abdulwahab Sabo and Shehu Bello.
PW6, Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank, testified that between February 17 and 22, 2021, a total of ₦100 million was transferred into the account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company by two individuals, Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak, whose identities he could not confirm.
The final witness of the day, Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank, tendered 12 sets of documents in compliance with a court subpoena, disclosing that while some original account packages could not be retrieved, the bank furnished the court with complete customer details from its database.
After hearing the witnesses, Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation.
The high-profile case, which has attracted national attention, is one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former state governor in recent years.
