₦10bn Kogi Fraud Trial: EFCC Witness Details Cash Trail, Abuja Mansions Linked to Ali Bello

Segun Atanda/

A prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how hundreds of millions of naira allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account were used to acquire prime properties across the Federal Capital Territory.

Testifying before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC and prosecution witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar (PW17), said investigations traced cash withdrawals from Kogi State accounts to multiple high-end real estate purchases in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Wuse II and Guzape.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu (now at large), on a 16-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering of ₦10.27 billion.

According to the witness, the funds were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State treasury and delivered to a Bureau de Change operator in Abuja for conversion to foreign currency or safekeeping for personal use.

Maitama Property Bought With Cash
Abubakar told the court that ₦900 million was used to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, formerly housing Spring Hall School. He said the transaction was brokered through a lawyer engaged by Ali Bello and that payment was made in cash at a Bureau de Change office in Zone 4, Abuja, after conversion to dollars.

When shown Exhibit H by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness identified it as a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, adding that Y3 Nigeria Limited was the company provided by the first defendant for the transaction.

Asokoro Mansion and Loan Servicing
On count four, Abubakar testified that ₦920 million was used to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (Oguta) Street, Asokoro. He said the transaction was allegedly facilitated by former governor Yahaya Bello, who approached a contractor linked to the property.

The witness said the owner accessed a facility from Access Bank and that repayment of the loan was serviced through numerous cash deposits from Lokoja and transfers from a Bureau de Change operated by Rabiu Tafada and his company, Busynet, allegedly on the instruction of Ali Bello.
He disclosed that as of March 21, 2018, the total facility stood at ₦808.7 million, and that on April 8, 2020, multiple individuals made cash deposits running into tens of millions of naira at the Lokoja branch of Access Bank to service the loan.

Asked whether the payments were made in cash, Abubakar replied: “Yes, My Lord,” adding that the source of the funds was the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.

More Properties Linked to Alleged Diversion
The witness further told the court that: ₦170 million was used to acquire a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, behind the former governor’s residence on Benghazi Street, and ₦100 million was used to purchase a property at No. 1773 Guzape Street, through a Bureau de Change.

Another property at No. 176, Plot 4882, Lome Street, Wuse was similarly funded; ₦66 million was paid in cash for a property at Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, a transaction he stressed was not on behalf of the Kogi State Government.

Abubakar said earlier investigations also revealed how funds and security votes were allegedly deployed to purchase properties and renovate the family house of the former governor.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.