EFCC alleges over ₦700 million in suspicious transactions linked to ex-Kogi governor; defence raises objections over document admissibility
Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned the ongoing money laundering case against the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to November 12 and 13, 2025, following the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness.
The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), resumed on Thursday with the prosecution calling its fifth and sixth witnesses, amid continued legal sparring over the admissibility of bank documents and the legality of alleged transactions.
Polaris Bank Official Testifies
The EFCC’s fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer at Polaris Bank, testified about suspicious credits and transfers into the accounts under scrutiny.
She told the court that one of the accounts received ₦450 million in November 2021 alone, noting that transfers from the account were made in consistent multiples of ₦10 million.
However, under cross-examination by Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to the first defendant, Oluwafemi admitted she was not the account officer or relationship manager for the accounts, and thus lacked direct knowledge of how the transactions were authorised or executed.
Similarly, counsel to the second defendant, A.M. Aliyu, asked whether the name of the second defendant, Abdulsalam Hudu, appeared in Exhibit M. Oluwafemi responded that it did not.
Sixth Witness, Arhyel Mshelia, Takes the Stand
The sixth witness, Mshelia Arhyel B, also testified but faced delays in cross-examination. Lead defence counsel Daudu informed the court that he had yet to conclude cross-examination of the same witness in a related matter before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
Justice Anenih ruled that the matter before her court was independent, and the defence retained the discretion to cross-examine or not.
During the session, the EFCC prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, sought to tender a 218-page bank statement of Alusha Services through the subpoenaed witness. Defence counsel objected, citing non-compliance with Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act, which govern the admissibility of documentary evidence, particularly electronic records.
Despite the objections, the court admitted the statement into evidence, marking it as Exhibit P1 en bloc.
Evidence of High-Value Transactions
The EFCC’s counsel questioned the witness about a series of transactions from February 2016 to May 2022, asking him to verify multiple ₦10 million transactions from the account. The witness confirmed the transactions and noted they were within banking thresholds prior to the imposition of tighter withdrawal limits in 2023.
He confirmed the total transactions as of January 31, 2018, amounted to ₦707,267,000.
In relation to the account of Aleshua Solutions Services, the witness also identified:
- A $2,500 transfer from B.O. Rosemary Chukwuma
- Two further $5,000 cash transfers to a recipient named Yau
He additionally confirmed receipts of ₦202 million from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in December 2016.
As proceedings neared the court’s closing time of 3:00 p.m., Justice Anenih adjourned the case to November 12 and 13, 2025, for continuation of the sixth witness’s cross-examination.
