A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that no banking regulation was violated in the withdrawals made by the Kogi State Government House administration during the tenure of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Mrs. Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified that the bank acted strictly within legal and regulatory limits in all transactions involving one of the defendants in the ongoing money laundering trial.
Under cross-examination by A.M. Aliu, counsel to Abdulsalami Hudu, Mrs. Abimbola stated that none of the withdrawals exceeded ₦10 million, the maximum amount permitted by banking regulations.
She confirmed giving similar testimony before the Federal High Court in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yahaya Adoza Bello. However, she clarified that she was not the account or relationship manager for the Kogi Government House account, which was domiciled in Lokoja, but maintained that all transactions followed due process.
During questioning, Yahaya Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, asked whether her duties as a Compliance Officer included protecting the bank’s integrity from legal and reputational risks. “Yes,” she responded.
The witness confirmed multiple transactions of ₦10 million each made by Abdulsalami Hudu between July 31 and August 6, 2019, but noted that she was not privy to the purpose of the withdrawals.
She explained that while banks are required to request transaction details for transfers, the same does not apply to cash withdrawals. “The banker is not an internal auditor of the customer,” she said.
Mrs. Abimbola also mentioned that another individual, Bello Abdullateef, made fund transfers in tranches on July 5, 2019, but reiterated that no regulation was breached. “There was no withdrawal that went beyond ₦10 million in all the transactions presented before the court,” she affirmed.
She told the court that she had worked with UBA for 19 years and understood the role of a cashier, including handling cash payments and receipts. She added that customers could withdraw any amount as long as their mandates were valid.
The witness listed the authorized signatories to the Kogi Government House account in 2004 as Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Hudu Abdulsalami (Accountant). She also referenced a 2008 letter signed by Elder P.S. Ocheni, Abbas Ibrahim Abubakar (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Senior Accountant).
When presented with a bank statement dated May 27, 2019, showing withdrawals linked to a credit entry labeled “Governor’s security fund,” she admitted that a total of ₦100 million had been credited in two tranches of ₦50 million each. Asked whether the funds were used for security purposes, she said, “My Lord, I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question.”
Mrs. Abimbola also testified that she had never met former Governor Yahaya Bello or the second defendant, Umar Oricha.
Earlier, Daudu, SAN, informed the court of an application challenging its jurisdiction, urging the judge to address it before proceeding further. However, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the motion was not ripe for hearing, proposing November 12 as the next date.
The EFCC subsequently called its fourth subpoenaed witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a Compliance Officer with Ecobank, who confirmed possession of a 13-page document. Counsel to the second defendant objected to its admissibility, arguing it failed to meet the provisions of the Evidence Act.
The court noted that the document was addressed to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, prompting the prosecution to withdraw the cover letter.
Under cross-examination, Akoni admitted that Hudu Abdulsalami’s name was not among the signatories to the account and that he did not know the three actual signatories.
Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned further hearing in the case until October 9, 2025.
