Judge Adjourns Bello’s Trial, Schedules Cross-Examination of EFCC Witness

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Wednesday adjourned the ongoing money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to Thursday, November 13, 2025. The adjournment followed a request by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), which was not opposed by the prosecution. Both parties agreed that the next sitting would allow the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, Mr. Mshelia Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank. At the resumed hearing, Arhyel presented details of transactions from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account between February 2016 and February 2018. He confirmed several deposits and withdrawals of ₦10 million each, totaling ₦1.09 billion as of February 2, 2018, all within the bank’s withdrawal limits. The witness stated that the first inflow into the account occurred on December 6, 2016, amounting to ₦74.378 million. He also identified multiple cash withdrawals in favour of one Muhammed Jamiu Salau, totaling ₦30 million, and noted other inflows from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service. Under further questioning by the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Arhyel examined Exhibit R1, the statement of account (USD) of Wales Oil and Gas, confirming an overseas transfer of $11,000 on November 12, 2021, in the name of Farida Oricha. He also reviewed Exhibit P1 En Bloc, a USD domiciliary account statement of Aleshua Solutions Services Limited, where he confirmed debit entries linked to foreign exchange payments made to the American International School. At this point, the defence sought an adjournment to prepare for cross-examination, a request to which the prosecution agreed. Justice Anenih consequently adjourned the trial to Thursday, November 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing and cross-examination of the witness. At a previous sitting, Arhyel had testified that before 2023, there was no strict withdrawal limit as long as individual cheque amounts did not exceed ₦10 million. He reaffirmed that the total withdrawals as of January 31, 2018, stood at ₦707.267 million.