Ahmed Abubakar, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has told a federal high court in Abuja how funds were allegedly diverted from the Kogi state government house administration account to acquire high-end properties in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Abubakar testified on Monday before James Omotosho, the
presiding judge, as principal witness 17 (PW17) in the trial of Ali Bello,
chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, and nephew to Yahaya Bello,
former governor of the state.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Dauda Sulaiman and
Abdulsalami Hudu, former cashier of the Kogi state government house
administration account, who is currently at large, on a 16-count amended charge
bordering on misappropriation and money laundering of N10,270,556,800.
Abubakar told the court that Bello allegedly used N900
million to acquire a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja,
known as Spring Hall School.
He said the funds were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi
state treasury and handed to a bureau de change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in
Abuja, for conversion to foreign currencies and personal use.
“My lord, the property belonged to an honourable from Bauchi
state and was offered for sale at that amount,” the witness said.
“The first defendant engaged a lawyer, Barrister Ramalan, to
broker the transaction. The payment was made in cash at a bureau de change
office in Zone 4, Abuja, after the naira equivalent was converted to dollars.”
He added that the funds used for the purchase were withdrawn
at different times from the Kogi state government house administration account.
When shown exhibit H by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the
prosecution, the witness identified it as a deed of assignment between Pauchi
Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited.
On count four, the EFCC alleged that Bello used N920 million
to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (Oguta) Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
Abubakar told the court that the transaction was brokered by
Yahaya Bello.
“My lord, the former governor approached a contractor who
had acquired the property through Wastle Motors, owned by Sa’id Dantsoho,” the
witness said.
“They agreed that the property would be sold at the same
price it was acquired for. Payment was to be made ‘in kind’ because His
Excellency had just assumed office and promised to patronise the contractor.”
He said an account was provided for loan repayments, adding
that cash deposits were made from Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, while
transfers were effected from the bureau de change operated by Rabiu Tafada and
his company, Busynet, on the instruction of Bello.
The witness said the total loan facility stood at
N808,698,263.29 as of March 21, 2018.
Abubakar further told the court that on April 8, 2020,
several cash deposits were made at Access Bank’s Lokoja branch to service the
loan.
When asked whether the payments were made in cash, the
witness replied in the affirmative, adding that the source of the funds was the
Kogi state government house administration account.
On count five, Abubakar said N170 million was used to
acquire a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, directly behind the
residence of the former governor.
“Our investigation revealed that the funds were withdrawn
from the Kogi state government house administration Account,” he said.
“The transaction was brokered by the first defendant and his
late bureau de change associate, Murtala Maigari.”
He said N100 million was paid into the property owner’s
account, while N70 million was converted to United States dollars.
The witness also testified that N100 million was used to
acquire a property at No. 1773 Guzape Street, Abuja, while another property at
No. 176, Plot 4882, Lome Street, Wuse, Abuja, was funded from the same
government account.
On count eight, Abubakar told the court that N66 million was
paid for a property at Plot 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, using cash
withdrawn from the Kogi state government house administration account.
He stressed that the payment was not made on behalf of the
Kogi state government.
Abubakar had earlier testified on how funds from the same
account and security votes were allegedly used to purchase properties and
renovate the family house of the former governor.
The judge adjourned the matter to February 16, 17, 18, 19
and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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