Prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 16 counts of criminal breach of trust and money laundering, the case saw intense cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer at Zenith Bank.

Bata, who testified on Tuesday about multiple cash withdrawals from Kogi State Government accounts, faced questions from defence counsel Yahaya Abdullahi, SAN, and later lead counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN.

Abdullahi confirmed through Bata that Exhibit S1 was the Kogi Government House account statement and that every account has a relationship officer with closer oversight. 

Daudu then probed Exhibit S2, the account mandate revealing it was opened around 2005 with initial signatories Chris Onyepola, Onyechukwu Daniel L., and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The witness identified later additions: Umar Shuaibu Oricha in 2016, Ahmed Idris in 2018, and Alhassan Omakoji in 2019.

On CBN withdrawal limits at the time, Bata stated ₦10 million for corporate entities and ₦500,000 for individuals. 

He confirmed the bank recognizes and pays signatories, and that consistent large withdrawals must be by authorized signatories.

Daudu pressed Bata on a December 15, 2017, entry showing 19 withdrawals of ₦10 million each totaling ₦190 million by Umar Comfort Olufunke (listed under variations: Umar Comfort, Umar Comfort O.). 

Prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, objected to questions on name variations.Following the session, the court adjourned the trial until 2026 for continuation.