Yahaya Bello: No banking regulation breached in fund withdrawals – EFCC witness

A prosecution witness has told an FCT High Court that no banking regulation was breached in the withdrawals of funds by the Kogi Government House administration under former Governor Yahaya Bello. A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who is also an official of the UBA, Mrs Williams Abimbola, said that her […]

A prosecution witness has told an FCT High Court that no banking regulation was breached in the withdrawals of funds by the Kogi Government House administration under former Governor Yahaya Bello.

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who is also an official of the UBA, Mrs Williams Abimbola, said that her bank acted within the ambit of the law during withdrawals made by Bello during his tenure.

Being cross-examined by the defence counsel, A.M. Aliyu, the banker, specifically told the court that none of the withdrawals was above N10 million, being the maximum allowed by law for withdrawals.

Abimbola, who is the compliance officer of the UBA, admitted that she had given similar evidence before the Federal High Court in FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The witness, however, admitted that she is not the relationship or account manager of the Kogi Government House, as the account was domiciled in Lokoja.

When defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), asked the witness whether her duties included protecting the integrity of the bank from legal penalty, reputational damage and financial losses, she responded in the affirmative.

The witness confirmed multiple transactions by one of the defendants, Abdulsalam Hudu, valued at N10 million each between 31st July and 6th August, 2019.

When the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) sought to tender some 13-page documents through the 4th prosecution witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with the Ecobank, defence counsel A.M Aliyu objected to the admissibility of the document tendered, saying it did not comply with the provisions of the Evidence Act, and the document was found to have been tendered before the Federal High Court and did not have Hudu Abubakar as a signatory.

Justice Maryann Anenih thereafter adjourned further hearing till October 9, 2025.

EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against Bello and two officials of the Kogi State government, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, on allegations that they conspired to use state government funds to acquire properties in high-brow areas within the FCT and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, worth N110.4 billion.