An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, on Monday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that fund withdrawals by the Kogi State government did not breach any banking law.
Bata stated at the resume hearing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for alleged money laundering.
The witness, who was cross-examined by the ex-governor’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), also admitted that Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the account statements presented as evidence in court.
Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, testified as 4th prosecution witness (PW-4) in the trial.
The prosecution had concentrated on withdrawals by Abdulsalam Hudu.
Daudu drew the witness’s attention to certain withdrawals by Umar Comfort Olufunke, which he said the prosecution did not mention while being led in evidence-in-chief.
The PW-4 told the court that Olufunke’s withdrawals, in multiples of N10 million, were between December 2017 and April 2018, with various hotels in Kogi as beneficiaries.
The witness also confirmed withdrawals by Alhassan Omakoji between November 2021 and December 2022, which he admitted did not exceed N10 million per withdrawal.
He said the withdrawals were in line with the limits set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Bata equally admitted that he was not aware of any law that regulates how Kogi government spends its money or allocation.
“Confirm as a compliant officer that when multiples of cheques of N10 million are presented, the customers are merely adhering to the withdrawal limits set by the CBN?” Daudu asked?
“Yes, my lord, the N10 million on the cheque is the maximum allowed threshold on cash withdrawal set by CBN,” he said.
When asked if Bello’s name appeared as beneficiary on Exhibit 22, which he (Daudu) and lawyer to the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), had taken him through, Bata said: “No, my lord, the name, Yahaya Bello, does not appear as beneficiary.”
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter till Tuesday for the continuation of the trial.
