EFCC prosecution witness PW17 testifies how Ali Bello allegedly diverted hundreds of millions from Kogi State funds to purchase prime Abuja properties
EFCC Witness: How Yahaya Bello’s Nephew Used ₦10bn Kogi Funds to Buy Luxury Abuja Properties
A key Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative, Deputy Superintendent DCE Ahmed Audu Abubakar (PW17), on Monday, February 9, 2026, laid bare before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, the alleged web of cash withdrawals and property buys linking hundreds of millions of naira from Kogi State’s Government House Administration Account to luxury real estate in the Federal Capital Territory.
The testimony came in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello—Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and nephew of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello—who faces a 16-count amended charge of criminal misappropriation and money laundering totaling ₦10,270,556,800 alongside co-defendant Dauda Sulaiman. A third accused, former cashier Abdulsalami Hudu, remains at large.
The funds, allegedly siphoned from the Kogi treasury and routed through Bureau de Change operator Rabiu Tafada in Abuja for conversion or safekeeping, were purportedly funneled into high-end acquisitions for personal gain.
PW17 detailed several transactions:
- ₦900 million for No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama (Spring Hall School): “My Lord, the property belongs to an Honourable 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… 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.”
The witness identified Exhibit H as the Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, noting: “My Lord, Y3 is the company provided by the first defendant to his lawyer for the preparation of the Deed of Assignment.”
- ₦920 million for No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (Oguta) Street, Asokoro: The deal was allegedly brokered directly by former Governor Yahaya Bello. “My Lord, the transaction was brokered by… His Excellency Yahaya Bello, himself. He approached a contractor friend who had recently acquired the property… Payment was to be made ‘in kind’ because His Excellency had just assumed office and promised to patronize the contractor during his administration.”
Multiple cash deposits serviced an Access Bank loan, with PW17 listing numerous individuals depositing sums ranging from ₦3.65 million to ₦9.6 million at the Lokoja branch on April 8, 2020—all in cash, sourced from the Kogi Government House Account.
- ₦170 million for Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4: Located directly behind Yahaya Bello’s former residence at No. 9 Benghazi Street. “Our investigation revealed that the funds were withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account. The transaction was brokered by the first defendant in conjunction with his late BDC associate, Murtala Maigari.”
N100 million was paid into the owner’s account (a retired Deputy Comptroller of Prisons), while ₦70 million was converted to dollars.
Additional counts involved ₦100 million for No. 1773 Guzape Street, another property at Plot 4882 Lome Street, Wuse, and ₦66 million for Plot 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II—all allegedly funded from the same state account without official purpose.
The witness stressed that these payments were not on behalf of the Kogi State Government and traced the cash flows directly to diverted public funds.
Justice Omotosho adjourned proceedings to February 16–20, 2026, for continuation of the high-stakes trial, which continues to spotlight alleged abuse of public resources during Yahaya Bello’s administration. Read More
