Alleged ₦110.4bn Fraud: Court Continues Trial of Yahaya Adoza Bello as Access Bank Witness Testifies on ₦86m Transfer and Structured Withdrawals.

 

Alleged ₦110.4bn Fraud: Trial of Yahaya Adoza Bello Continues March 11

The trial of former Yahaya Adoza Bello over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud continued on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with the court adjourning proceedings to March 11 and 12, 2026. Read original

Presiding judge, Maryanne Anineh, fixed the new dates after the court heard further testimony from a prosecution witness during the resumed hearing on March 10.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering totaling ₦110.4 billion.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that the session was scheduled for the continuation of cross-examination of the 10th prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc.

Egoro had earlier testified that several funds allegedly linked to the case were moved through multiple bank accounts.

During cross-examination, defence counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), requested that the statement of account of Fazab Business Enterprise Limited be presented to the witness.

Referring to an entry dated June 24, 2022, in the 14th column of the statement, Daudu asked the witness to confirm an outflow described as payment for the supply of educational materials.

Responding, the witness confirmed the transaction, stating that the payment was made “for the supply of educational materials in the sum of ₦20 million.”

The defence further questioned the witness on several withdrawals recorded in the account statement. Egoro acknowledged the transactions but said he could not determine the purpose of the withdrawals.

He also confirmed that ₦86 million was transferred from Fazab Business Enterprise Limited to Ejadams Essence Limited, but added that he could not explain the reason for the payment.

When asked whether he was aware of any business relationship between Fazab Business Enterprise Limited and Hadassah Katriel Global Enterprise, the witness said he had no knowledge of such a connection.

The compliance officer, however, noted that many of the cash withdrawals from the account appeared structured to fall below ₦10 million.

When questioned on whether a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) had been filed concerning the transactions and whether such a report was before the court, the witness replied, “No, my lord.”

Justice Anineh subsequently adjourned the case to March 11 and 12, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

Source: EFCC X Account