The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver judgment on the alleged diversion of N10 billion from the Kogi State Government Account, funds reportedly used to acquire prime properties in the nation’s capital.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, a prosecution witness, PW17, Deputy Superintendent Ahmed Audu Abubakar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), detailed how hundreds of millions of naira were allegedly misappropriated from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account and used to purchase high-end properties in strategic locations across Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and nephew of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu, the former cashier of the Government House Administration Account (currently at large). The defendants face a 16-count amended charge covering allegations of misappropriation and money laundering of N10,270,556,800. The funds were allegedly delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in Abuja to hold or convert to foreign currencies for personal gain.
Abubakar told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, that Ali Bello used N900 million to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, which housed Spring Hall School.
“My Lord, the property belongs to a Legislator from Bauchi State and was put up for sale for that amount. The first defendant procured the services of a lawyer, Barrister Ramalan, to broker the transaction. Barrister Ramalan carried out the instruction as directed by the first defendant, and the property was eventually purchased. The payment was made in cash at the office of the Bureau de Change in Zone 4, Abuja, after the naira equivalent was converted to dollars. That was the finding of our investigation regarding the transaction,” he explained.
The witness confirmed that the funds were withdrawn in several tranches from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account. When shown Exhibit H by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abubakar confirmed it was a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited. He explained that Y3 Nigeria Limited was provided by Ali Bello to his lawyer for the preparation of the deed.
On count four of the charge, Oyedepo stated that Bello allegedly used N920 million to purchase another property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (or Oguta) Street, Asokoro, Abuja — funds he ought to have known were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The witness detailed that the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, was directly involved in brokering the deal. “My Lord, the transaction was brokered by the former Governor himself. He approached a contractor friend who had recently acquired the property through Wastle Motors, owned by Alhaji Sa’id Dantsoho. They agreed on a price, and the owner accessed a facility from Access Bank. It was agreed that the property would be sold at the same amount it was acquired. Payment was to be made ‘in kind’ because His Excellency had just assumed office and promised to patronize the contractor during his administration,” Abubakar explained.
According to the EFCC, loan repayments were directed into a designated account. During this period, numerous cash deposits from Lokoja and transfers from Tafada’s Bureau de Change, including through his company Busynet, were recorded. All BDC transfers were carried out under the instructions of Ali Bello.
The court is now poised to rule on the matter, which has drawn significant public attention given the scale of the funds involved and the high-profile nature of the defendants.
This case highlights the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute alleged diversion of public funds by senior government officials, particularly in high-stakes financial transactions involving real estate in the Federal Capital Territory.