Three prosecution witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that although there were massive withdrawals from Kogi State Government House Administration bank accounts, Yahaya Bello was never a beneficiary of the transactions.
The witnesses — Mshelia Arhyel Bata of Zenith Bank, Mohammed Hassan of Keystone Bank, and Gabriel Oche of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) — testified in the ongoing trial of Bello and two others over alleged corruption.
While tendering account opening packages and statements from their respective banks, the witnesses confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear anywhere in the documents, either as a signatory to the accounts or as a recipient of the withdrawals.
During cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Bata told the court that after reviewing the statements, he could not find Bello’s name listed as a beneficiary. He added that the documents did not indicate the purpose of the withdrawals, noting only that the withdrawal pattern was consistent.
Bata identified Chris Enefola, a former Permanent Secretary; Onekutu Daniel, a Chief Accountant; and Abdulsalami Hudu, an Accountant, as signatories to the accounts in question.
Another witness, Mohammed Hassan of Keystone Bank, testified regarding the Dantata and Sawoe accounts, stating that he was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager and therefore lacked direct knowledge of how the accounts were operated.
Similarly, FCMB witness Gabriel Oche told the court that several payments were made to the American International School, Abuja, through an account belonging to Kunfayakun Global Limited, but stressed that he had no personal relationship with any of the account signatories. He also confirmed that neither Bello nor the other defendants appeared in the transaction records presented by his bank.
At the hearing, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, appeared for the EFCC, while Joseph Daudu, SAN, represented Yahaya Bello and Umar Shuaib Oricha. Z. E. Abbass appeared for Abdulsalami Hudu.
Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the case to January 16 for continuation of trial.
