The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that billions of naira allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account were used to acquire several luxury properties in the Federal Capital Territory.
Testifying as the 17th prosecution witness, PW17, a Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, appeared before Justice James Omotosho and detailed how funds traced to the Kogi State treasury were allegedly laundered through cash withdrawals, Bureau de Change transactions and proxy accounts.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and a nephew of former Governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu, a former cashier of the Government House Administration Account who is currently at large. The defendants are standing trial on a 16-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering involving ₦10.27 billion.
According to Abubakar, large sums were withdrawn from government accounts and allegedly handed over to a Bureau de Change operator in Abuja, Rabiu Tafada, for conversion into foreign currencies and subsequent use in personal transactions.
The witness told the court that Ali Bello allegedly used ₦900 million to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which currently houses Spring Hall School. He said the transaction was facilitated by a lawyer, Barrister Ramalan, who acted on Bello’s instructions.
Abubakar testified that the payment was made in cash at a Bureau de Change office in Zone 4, Abuja, after the naira equivalent was converted to United States dollars. He added that the funds were withdrawn in tranches from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.
The witness identified Exhibit H as a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, explaining that Y3 Nigeria Limited was the company provided by the first defendant for the transaction.
On another count, Abubakar stated that ₦920 million was allegedly used to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (also known as Oguta) Street, Asokoro, Abuja. He told the court that the transaction was brokered by former Governor Yahaya Bello, who allegedly negotiated directly with a contractor who had recently acquired the property through Wastle Motors, a company owned by Alhaji Sa’id Dantsoho.
According to the witness, the property was purchased through a loan facility from Access Bank, with repayments allegedly funded through cash deposits and Bureau de Change transfers traced to the Government House Administration Account. He said the loan facility stood at ₦808.69 million as of March 21, 2018.
Abubakar further testified that on April 8, 2020, multiple individuals made cash deposits at Access Bank’s Lokoja branch to service the loan. He listed more than 25 separate deposits, ranging from ₦3.65 million to ₦9.6 million, which he said were traced to withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.
When asked by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, whether the payments were made in cash, the witness responded in the affirmative.
On another count, Abubakar told the court that ₦170 million was allegedly used to acquire a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, located behind the former governor’s residence on Benghazi Street. He said ₦100 million was paid into the seller’s account, while ₦70 million was converted to foreign currency through a Bureau de Change.
The witness also testified that ₦100 million was allegedly used to acquire a property at No. 1773 Guzape Street, Abuja; another property at No. 176, Plot 4882, Lome Street, Wuse; and ₦66 million for a property at Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II. He said all the payments were made in cash and sourced from the Government House Administration Account.
Abubakar told the court that the funds were not used for any official government purpose but were allegedly deployed for personal property acquisitions and renovations linked to the former governor’s family.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.
