Revealed: How Billions Vanished In Cash From Kogi State’s Accounts — Sh*cking Audit Exposes Massive Fraud Trail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday presented additional evidence before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving ₦110.4 billion.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on corruption and diversion of public funds.

At the resumed hearing, the EFCC’s sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, detailed a series of large and repeated cash withdrawals allegedly linked to Kogi State Government House accounts between 2016 and 2018.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Professor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Bata walked the court through several entries in Exhibit S1, confirming multiple withdrawals made by the second defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu.

“On February 12, 2016, there were 21 withdrawals totaling ₦200 million,” the witness stated. “On March 10, 2016, further withdrawals amounting to ₦100 million were made. Similar patterns continued through June and July 2016.”

He further revealed that between August and December 2016, there were multiple cash withdrawals in tens and hundreds of millions, sometimes as many as 40 transactions in a single day.

According to Bata, inflows from Kogi State statutory revenue and other entities such as Idhu Integrated Services and the Ministry of Finance were regularly followed by large same-day withdrawals.

He cited instances where the accounts received inflows of ₦50 million to ₦200 million, only for the funds to be withdrawn almost immediately.

The witness also referred to Exhibit R1, a U.S. dollar account statement belonging to Whales Oil and Gas, noting a transfer of $11,000 to Academic Services Farida Oricha for tuition payments at the American International School.

Bata further identified additional transactions in Exhibit P1 (Alyeshua Solutions Services account), showing payments of $42,170 and $78,160 to the same school for Naima Ohunene Bello and Fatima Oziohu Bello, respectively.

Following the detailed testimony, defence counsel Abdullahi Yahaya (SAN) requested an adjournment, arguing that the lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), needed time to review the extensive evidence before cross-examination.

However, EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, objected, stressing that the defence had no valid reason to delay proceedings, noting that “EFCC is ready to proceed daily to conclude this matter.”

After hearing both sides, Justice Anineh granted a one-day adjournment in the interest of justice, rescheduling the case for Thursday, November 13, 2025, for cross-examination and continuation of trial.