A witness for the prosecution told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that Zenith Bank filed multiple Suspicious Transaction Reports involving accounts linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami.
Mashelia Arhyel Bata works as a compliance officer at Zenith Bank. He testified before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in the Maitama division of the court.
Malami stands accused alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought the 16-count charge against them.
They face allegations of conspiracy, concealment, and money laundering. Authorities say the N8.7 billion involved represents proceeds from unlawful activities.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Adebayo Adedeji, SAN, pressed the witness on the bank deposits. He noted that the deposits complied with Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines.
Bata didn't dispute this fact. But he insisted the bank still had to file the suspicious transaction reports anyway.
"We had to file Suspicious Transaction Report. We did file," Bata told the court.
Prosecution counsel J.S. Okutepa, SAN, then asked during re-examination what constitutes such a report.
Defence counsel immediately objected, saying the testimony wasn't ambiguous.
Justice Abdulmalik overruled the objection. The judge cited Section 215(3) of the Evidence Act to allow the question.
Bata explained that banks file these reports when money moves in unusual or repetitive patterns. "Any deposition of funds seen in a pattern or repetitive, you must escalate it to the NFIU," he said.
As a compliance officer, he handled correspondence from law enforcement agencies only. He wasn't the account officer or relationship manager for the accounts being investigated.
Justice Abdulmalik discharged the witness after his testimony concluded. She adjourned the trial until May 22 for the next round of proceedings.
