FCT High Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Money Laundering Trial to November 13

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to tomorrow, November 13, 2025.

The adjournment was granted at the request of Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, to allow for the cross-examination of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sixth witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.

During the resumed hearing, Bata detailed deposits and withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account between February 2016 and February 2018. He confirmed multiple transactions of ₦10 million each, totaling over ₦1.09 billion as of February 2, 2018, all within the approved withdrawal limits.

The witness also confirmed inflows from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and foreign transactions, including a USD transfer of $11,000 to Farida Oricha and payments from Aleshua Solutions Services Limited to the American International School.

The Defence counsel requested the adjournment to prepare for cross-examination, which was agreed upon by both parties. Justice Anenih subsequently fixed the matter for November 13.

Bata had previously testified that, prior to 2023, withdrawals up to ₦10 million per cheque were permitted, confirming that total transactions up to January 31, 2018, amounted to ₦707,267,000.