A compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Abimbola Williams, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama that a total of N640 million was withdrawn from the Kogi State Government account within six days during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Williams, who appeared as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, said the funds were withdrawn through 64 cheques of N10 million each by the then Chief Accountant of the Government House, Abdulsalami Hudu, between July 31 and August 6, 2019.
Bello, Hudu, and the Director-General of the Kogi Government House Administration, Shaibu Oricha, are currently facing trial before Justice Maryanne Anenih over an alleged N110.4 billion fraud filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While being examined by EFCC counsel Rotimi Pinheiro (SAN), Williams, who said she had worked with UBA for 19 years, confirmed a pattern of “serial transactions” by Hudu within the period.
“Between July 31 and August 6, 2019, a total of N640 million was withdrawn in 64 tranches of N10 million each by the third defendant,” she testified.
During cross-examination, the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), pressed the witness on her role in the transactions. Williams clarified that although she served as a compliance officer, she was not directly managing the account.
“I am not the Relationship Manager or Account Officer. A customer can withdraw any amount once the mandate is correct,” she told the court.
Williams explained that while the bank demands transaction details for high-value transfers, it does not require explanations for cash withdrawals.
“The banker is not an internal auditor of the customer,” she added.
She also confirmed that all withdrawals stayed within the N10 million limit per cheque, and that the bank did not breach any financial regulations in the process.
The witness identified the signatories on the Government House account as Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalami Hudu (Accountant).
When questioned about the purpose of the funds, Williams said she could not ascertain whether the money withdrawn was used for security purposes, as the defence counsel suggested.
“My Lord, I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question,” she replied.
After Williams’ testimony, the EFCC presented its fourth witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer from Ecobank, who confirmed the presentation of a 13-page statement of accounts containing several high-value deposits linked to the defendants.
Counsel to the third defendant, A.M. Aliyu, however, opposed the admissibility of the document, arguing that it did not meet the requirements of the Evidence Act.
The court also heard from the fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, before the defence counsel sought to move an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned the matter to October 9, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
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