An operative 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 choice properties in the Federal Capital Territory.
The witness, PW17, a Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, DCE Ahmed Audu Abubakar, gave the testimony before Justice James Omotosho during the resumed trial of the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Ali Bello.
Bello, a nephew of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is standing trial alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu, a former cashier of the Government House Administration Account, who is currently at large.
The defendants are being prosecuted on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering of ₦10,270,556,800.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abubakar told the court that the funds were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State treasury and delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in Abuja, for conversion to foreign currencies for personal use.
He said investigations revealed that Bello used ₦900m to purchase a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which currently houses Spring Hall School.
The witness noted that the property, owned by a former lawmaker from Bauchi State, was purchased through a lawyer, Barrister Ramalan, who acted on the instructions of the first defendant.
“My Lord, the payment was made in cash at a Bureau de Change office in Zone 4, Abuja, after the naira equivalent was converted to dollars. The funds were withdrawn at different times from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account,” he said.
Abubakar identified Exhibit H as a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, adding that Y3 Nigeria Limited was the company provided by Bello to his lawyer for the transaction.
On count four of the charge, the EFCC witness told the court that Bello allegedly used ₦920m to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (Oguta) Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
He alleged that the transaction was brokered by the former governor, Yahaya Bello, who negotiated the purchase through a contractor friend that had acquired the property via Wastle Motors, owned by Alhaji Sa’id Dantsoho.
Abubakar said the owner of the property obtained a loan from Access Bank, which was later serviced through multiple cash deposits and transfers from the Bureau de Change operated by Tafada and his company, Busynet.
“All the BDC transfers were carried out on the instruction of the first defendant, Ali Bello,” the witness said, adding that the total loan facility as of March 21, 2018, stood at ₦808,698,263.29.
He further testified that on April 8, 2020, several cash deposits were made at the Lokoja branch of Access Bank by different individuals to service the loan, all of which he said were traced to the Government House Administration Account.
When asked if the payments were made in cash, Abubakar replied in the affirmative.
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On count five, the witness told the court that ₦170m was used to acquire a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, behind the residence of the former governor.
He said ₦100m was paid into the account of the property owner, a retired Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Ishaya Adamu Jagaba, while ₦70m was converted to United States dollars.
Abubakar also testified that ₦100m was allegedly used to acquire a property at No. 1773 Guzape Street, Abuja, while another property at No. 176, Plot 4882, Lome Street, Wuse, was purchased with funds traced to the same government account.
He further told the court that ₦66m was paid in cash for a property at Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, stressing that the purchase was not on behalf of the Kogi State Government.
The witness recalled that he had earlier testified on how funds from the Government House Administration Account and security votes were allegedly used to buy properties and renovate the family house of the former governor.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.
