Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yeterday, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, till today, for continuation of trial.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Nwite for alleged diversion and misappropriation of Kogi State funds to the tune of N80.2 billion while serving as governor.
The adjournment followed a long day of proceedings that featured the continuation of the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, PW4, Mashelia Arhyel and the testimonies of three other witnesses from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank and Access Bank.
The defence counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, continued the cross-examination of Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, who earlier testified as the fourth prosecution witness.
Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke in multiples of N10 million.
After the cross-examination, prosecution team, led by professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.
The prosecution, thereafter, called Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, as PW5. Akoni, who appeared under subpoena, produced and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, which was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.
She identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, among others, which ranged from N3 million to N20 million.
The Sixth Prosecution Witness, PW6, Mohammed Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also appeared under subpoena. He produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31 by the court.
He testified that between February 17 and February 22, 2021, a total of N100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak.
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