N8.7Billion Fraud Trial: Witness Tells Court Bank Filed Suspicious Reports On Ex-AGF Malami’s Transactions
N8.7Billion Fraud Trial: Witness Tells Court Bank Filed Suspicious Reports On Ex-AGF Malami’s Transactions
The witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc and the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik during cross-examination by defence counsel, Adebayo Adedeji, SAN.
The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over an alleged N8.7 billion fraud continued on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness revealing that Zenith Bank Plc filed Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) on transactions linked to the former minister’s accounts.
The witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc and the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik during cross-examination by defence counsel, Adebayo Adedeji, SAN.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.
During proceedings, defence counsel asked the witness whether the deposits reflected in the account statements complied with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Responding, Bata said, “Yes,” but added, “we had to file Suspicious Transaction Report. We did file.”
Under re-examination, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, asked the witness to explain what constituted a Suspicious Transaction Report.
The defence objected, arguing that there was no ambiguity in the witness’s earlier testimony that required clarification. However, Okutepa maintained that Section 215(3) of the Evidence Act permitted him to seek further explanation from the witness.
Justice Abdulmalik overruled the objection and directed the witness to answer the question.
Explaining the process, Bata told the court: “Any deposition of funds seen in a pattern or repetitive, you must escalate it to the NFIU.”
He was referring to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the agency responsible for analysing and disseminating financial intelligence reports to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
The witness also clarified his role at the bank, saying his duties “comprise receiving correspondences from law enforcement agencies,” adding that he was neither the account officer nor the relationship manager for the accounts under investigation.
Following the conclusion of his testimony, the witness was discharged from the witness box after both prosecution and defence counsel indicated they had no further questions.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case until May 22, 2026, for continuation of trial.
