Alleged N110.4bn Financial Fraud: Massive Cash Withdrawals Uncovered in Kogi State Under Yahaya Bello’s Tenure
Date : October 8, 2025
In a case that has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s political and financial institutions, fresh revelations have emerged on how over ₦110.4 billion in public funds were allegedly siphoned from the Kogi State government’s account through systematic and large-scale cash withdrawals during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), Abimbola Williams, testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3), revealing an intricate pattern of cash withdrawals amounting to hundreds of millions of naira — often in tranches of ₦10 million — channelled through cheque transactions to one Abdulsalam Gudu, a key figure linked to the fraud.
Led in evidence by lead prosecuting counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Williams provided detailed testimony supported by 251 pages of bank statements, showing withdrawals made over several months in 2018 and 2019. In just seven days between July 31 and August 6, 2019, a staggering ₦640 million was allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House account.
“On 12 December 2018 alone, there were ten separate cheque withdrawals of ₦10 million each to Abdulsalam Gudu. Similar patterns continued into early 2019, with multiple withdrawals on different dates amounting to several hundreds of millions,” Williams told the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Jesutomi Akonni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, also gave testimony on suspicious cash inflows into the personal account of one Moses Wanzo, including deposits of ₦15 million, ₦19 million, and ₦20 million by various individuals in 2016 — further deepening concerns about widespread abuse of public funds.
Defence Raises Jurisdiction Objection
Counsel to the first defendant, J.B. Dauda, SAN, raised an objection on jurisdiction, claiming that the trial cannot proceed until the issue is resolved. The application, filed on September 26, was sharply criticized by the prosecution.
Pinheiro countered that the defence was attempting to frustrate the trial’s progress after a full year in court, describing the jurisdictional challenge as a “delaying tactic”.
The case, which is being closely monitored by anti-corruption watchdogs and civil society groups, resumes on Thursday, October 9, 2025, with more witnesses that testified.
