A Court Gravel

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s bid to cross-examine its third witness in the ongoing money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The judge held that the prosecution could only cross-examine its own witness after declaring the individual hostile. “The argument of the learned counsel for the prosecution is misconceived,” the judge ruled, adding that the EFCC’s re-examination must be limited to pages 1, 14, and 15 of Exhibit 19.

After a brief re-examination and withdrawal of a prior question, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) informed the court that three additional witnesses were available to testify.

One of the witnesses, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, confirmed that the bank had provided statements of account requested by the EFCC and that each came with a certificate of identification. The court admitted the account statements of the Kogi State Government House Administration and six others as exhibits.

Bata testified that under the then-cashless policy, government cash withdrawal limits were capped at ₦10 million per transaction. Referring to a May 23, 2016 transaction, he confirmed a ₦10 million withdrawal by one Abdulsalami Hudu, noting nine such transactions occurred that same day.

He also identified multiple credits totaling ₦1.092 billion on January 30, 2018, and aggregated total withdrawals to ₦1.968 billion, including transactions for security votes as noted by the defence counsel.

The judge adjourned proceedings to June 27, 2025, for cross-examination by the defence.