The ongoing money laundering case against Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, took a new turn on Thursday, as a key witness testified that there was no direct link between Bello and certain account withdrawals under investigation. The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continues to unfold at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
During the hearing, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel for the EFCC, presented a subpoenaed witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. Abimbola confirmed that the bank had complied with a subpoena from the court, which requested the statement of account for one Maselina Njoku from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The subpoena was admitted as Exhibit 7.
Abimbola testified that the bank had provided a certificate of compliance and confirmed that there were 10 withdrawals of ₦10 million each on December 12, 2018, made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu. These withdrawals were processed using cheques presented over the counter. However, when pressed, Abimbola clarified that there was no direct evidence connecting former Governor Bello to the withdrawals.
Key Testimony
Under cross-examination, the witness confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in the account opening documents nor in any management records associated with the Kogi Government House Bank account. The account itself is domiciled in Lokoja, Kogi State, and is not linked to the EFCC’s Area 3 office in Abuja, where Abimbola works.
The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), questioned Abimbola about her role as a compliance officer, asking whether her duty was to protect the bank from legal penalties, reputational damage, and financial loss. Abimbola affirmed her responsibility in upholding the bank’s integrity.
No Direct Connection to Yahaya Bello
Further questioning from the defense sought to determine whether Yahaya Bello’s name appeared anywhere in the relevant documents, such as the account opening forms or statements of account. Abimbola unequivocally stated that Bello’s name was not mentioned in any of the documents, including Exhibits 2P1-3P62.
The defense team also challenged the authenticity of a signature on one of the documents, questioning whether the witness had signed the document in question. During re-examination, Abimbola acknowledged that she had signed on behalf of Edward Bananga but denied being Bananga herself.
Next Steps in the Trial
The prosecution also presented additional evidence in the form of documents from the American International School, including the admission letters and payment receipts for the children of the defendant. These were tendered as Exhibit 12P and provided further context to the financial transactions under investigation.
The court proceedings have been adjourned until March 7, 2025, for continued trial.
This development underscores the complexity of financial investigations involving high-profile individuals, as the case continues to evolve with further testimony and evidence.
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