Court orders police, DSS to investigate evidence tampering in N10bn fraud case

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has directed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate allegations of tampering with key evidence in a N10 billion fraud case involving Ali Bello.

Justice J.K. Omotosho gave the order on Thursday, February 5, 2026, following revelations that his court registrar, Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, and the second defendant in the case, Daudu Sulaiman, may have deleted critical WhatsApp messages from a mobile phone submitted as evidence.

The court was informed that Sulaiman allegedly approached Zubairu to use a code to erase significant messages contained in Exhibits N and O. Zubairu admitted the claim in open court, explaining that he was offered accommodation in exchange for deleting certain WhatsApp chats.

Justice Omotosho instructed Zubairu to provide full details of his interaction with the second defendant, stressing the court’s policy of transparency and zero tolerance for misconduct.

The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigate whether the chats were indeed deleted. EFCC investigation officer, Muhammed Audu Abubakar, confirmed that multiple messages dated between 2020 and 2022, including references to transactions of millions of naira, had been erased.

Abubakar highlighted several missing messages, including amounts ranging from N30 million to N100 million, as well as other key communications with government officials.

Following the revelations, Oyedepo urged the court to order a forensic investigation of the affected exhibits and suggested that the defendant’s bail be reconsidered. The defence counsel requested that the court await the outcome of the forensic investigation before taking further action.

Justice Omotosho directed that the matter be investigated by the Police and DSS and adjourned the trial to February 9, 2026, for continuation.

The development has intensified scrutiny on the case, highlighting concerns over possible evidence tampering in one of the country’s high-profile financial crime trials.