A compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Williams Abimbola, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that no banking regulation was violated in transactions carried out with the Kogi State Government during the tenure of former governor Yahaya Bello.
Testifying as the third prosecution witness in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) ongoing money laundering case against Bello, Abimbola stated under cross-examination that all transactions by the state government followed due process and fell within regulatory limits.
According to her, there was no single withdrawal exceeding ₦10 million among the transactions presented before the court.
She clarified that while her role as a compliance officer involved safeguarding the bank’s integrity and ensuring adherence to financial laws, she was not the account manager for the Kogi Government House account, which was domiciled in Lokoja.
Abimbola further explained that banks typically request transaction purposes for transfers but not for cash withdrawals, as they are not internal auditors of their customers.
She also confirmed that all withdrawals and transfers, including those by Bello Abdullateef and Abdulsalam Hudu between July and August 2019, complied with banking regulations.
NAIJAONPOINT , who has worked at UBA for 19 years, identified the account’s authorized signatories as Christopher Enefola, Onekutu Daniel, and Hudu Abdulsalami, according to records dating back to 2004.
During further cross-examination, Abimbola admitted that she had never met Bello or any of the co-defendants.
The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), raised an objection regarding the court’s jurisdiction, but the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), argued that the application was not ready for hearing.
The EFCC also presented its fourth witness, Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank, who tendered a 13-page document. However, the defence objected to its admissibility, citing non-compliance with the Evidence Act.
Justice Anenih adjourned the matter to October 9, 2025, for continuation of the trial.