EFCC logo and the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday testified that no banking regulations were violated in the transactions linked to the alleged N110 billion fraud case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and two others.
Testifying before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Williams Abimbola, told the court that all transactions carried out by United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed proper banking procedures.
“There was no breach of banking regulations in the transactions processed by UBA,” said Abimbola, who works as a compliance officer at the bank.
Bello, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, was arraigned on November 27, 2024, on a 16-count charge relating to the alleged diversion of state funds.
Under cross-examination, Abimbola acknowledged that she had previously testified in a similar case at the Federal High Court, Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024), also involving Yahaya Bello. However, she clarified that she was neither the relationship manager nor the account officer for the Kogi Government House accounts, which were domiciled in Lokoja.
She stated that the transactions under scrutiny were compliant with standard banking protocols, noting: “The bank is not an internal auditor of its customers.”
Abimbola also confirmed a series of transactions by Hudu, the third defendant, amounting to N10 million each between July 31 and August 6, 2019, as well as a tranche of transfers made by one Bello Abdullateef on July 5, 2019.
She emphasized that none of the individual withdrawals exceeded N10 million, and that the bank’s responsibility did not extend to questioning every customer’s motive, especially if the transactions fell within regulatory limits.
When asked about the nature of the transactions, Abimbola replied, “I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question.”
During the session, she also identified the authorized signatories to the Kogi Government House account dating back to 2004, naming Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Hudu Abdulsalami (Accountant), as recorded in the court’s Exhibit F2. Another document from 2008 listed three new signatories, including Elder P.S. Ocheni and Abbas Ibrahim Abubakar.
Although she confirmed a N100 million credit entry—made in two tranches of N50 million each—and labeled as “governor’s security fund,” she reiterated her inability to confirm the purpose or legitimacy of the funds.
Also taking the stand was the EFCC’s fourth witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, who tendered a 13-page document. However, counsel to the second defendant, A.M. Aliyu (SAN), objected to its admissibility, arguing it didn’t meet the standards of the Evidence Act.
The court noted that the document was originally addressed to another judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case until October 9 for the continuation of the hearing.
NAN
