EFCC Witness Testifies No Banking Laws Broken in Kogi Government Fund Withdrawals

In a significant development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated under oath that financial transactions conducted by the Kogi State government did not violate established banking regulations.

The testimony came during Monday’s resumed hearing in the money laundering trial involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, marking another chapter in the high-profile case that has captured national attention.

Banking Compliance Officer Takes the Stand

Mshelia Arhyel Bata, appearing as the fourth prosecution witness (PW-4) and a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, faced rigorous cross-examination from Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel representing the former governor. The courtroom atmosphere grew tense as Bata acknowledged that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear as a direct beneficiary in any of the account statements presented as evidence.

“No, my lord, the name Yahaya Bello does not appear as beneficiary,” Bata confirmed when questioned about Exhibit 22, a key document both defense and prosecution lawyers had reviewed.

Withdrawal Patterns Under Scrutiny

While the prosecution had initially focused on withdrawals made by Abdulsalam Hudu, defense counsel Daudu brought attention to additional transactions conducted by Umar Comfort Olufunke that hadn’t been mentioned in earlier testimony. According to Bata’s evidence, these withdrawals occurred in multiples of N10 million between December 2017 and April 2018, with various hotels across Kogi State listed as recipients.

The witness further confirmed transactions by Alhassan Omakoji between November 2021 and December 2022, noting that none of these individual withdrawals exceeded the N10 million threshold per transaction.

Central Bank Compliance Confirmed

In what could be seen as a pivotal moment for the defense, Bata affirmed that all the questioned withdrawals fell within legal limits established by the Central Bank of Nigeria. When Daudu pressed the witness on whether multiple N10 million cheque presentations simply represented adherence to CBN regulations, Bata responded unequivocally: “Yes, my lord, the N10 million on the cheque is the maximum allowed threshold on cash withdrawal set by CBN.”

The compliance officer further admitted that he wasn’t aware of any specific laws regulating how state governments allocate or spend their funds, raising questions about the fundamental basis of the prosecution’s case.

Legal Proceedings Continue

Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned the case until Tuesday, allowing the trial to continue its course through the Nigerian judicial system. The testimony has introduced new dimensions to the case, particularly regarding what constitutes improper financial conduct versus routine government banking operations that comply with national regulations.

As the proceedings unfold, legal observers note that the case may establish important precedents regarding financial accountability for state governments and their officials.

Source: Original report from The Cable