Court intensifies trial of Yahaya Bello as banker testifies withdrawal of N640 million in 6 days

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Wednesday resumed the trial of the former Governor of Kogi State with the third prosecution witness testifying that N640 million was withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House account in 64 tranches of N10 million within 6 days.

Testifying, the bank’s Compliance Officer, Ms Abimbola Williams revealed that the sum of N640 million was withdrawn through 64 cheque transactions of N10m each by the former Chief Accountant at the Kogi Government House, Abdulsalami Hudu, between July 31 and August 6, 2019.

CAPITAL POST reports that the trio of Bello, Hudu, and Oricha who is the Director-General of the Kogi Government House Administration are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The total sum for which the former Kogi State Governor was being prosecuted is N110 billion.

Justice Maryanne Anenih is the presiding Judge of the trial Court.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Williams confirmed a series of withdrawals linked to Hudu.

 “Between July 31 and August 6, 2019, the total amount of cash withdrawn in six days by the third defendant was 64 transactions of N10m each, amounting to N640m,” she said.

During cross-examination by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the witness confirmed that she had previously testified in a related matter at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

She clarified that although she served as the bank’s Compliance Officer, she was not the Relationship Manager or Account Officer handling the daily operations of the account.

Williams told the court that customers were free to withdraw any amount as long as proper mandates were followed.

“As a Compliance Officer, I am allowed to work in any branch,” she added, noting that she reported for duty that morning at her bank’s branch on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Responding to further questions, the witness explained that while the bank requires customers to state the purpose of high-value transfers, it does not make such enquiries for cash withdrawals.

 She also emphasised that the bank did not breach any financial regulations in allowing the transactions.

She listed the authorised signatories on the Kogi Government House account as of 2004 as Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant), and later, in 2008, Elder P.S. Ocheni, Abbas Ibrahim Abubakar, and Hudu.