Kogi N10bn fraud: EFCC witness links fund transfers to Ali Bello

The trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Ahmed Usman Ododo, continued on Monday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness linking him to multiple fund transfers allegedly traced to Kogi State government accounts.

Bello, a nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello, is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside Dauda Sulaiman on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to ₦10.27 billion.

The 17th prosecution witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, an EFCC investigator, told the court that a document recovered during investigations detailed inflows and outflows of funds connected to the defendants.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness identified several transactions, including a $91,000 outflow on February 5, 2021, allegedly paid to “Oga Ali,” which he said referred to Bello. He also cited other entries, including ₦10 million reportedly paid to Bello and ₦500,000 to Sulaiman.

The witness further testified that ₦150 million was moved from Lokoja to a bureau de change operator through an associate, while another ₦100 million — paid in 10 tranches of ₦10 million — was traced to payments made to a construction firm for a property located in Gwarimpa, Abuja. An irrevocable power of attorney for the property was tendered and admitted as evidence.

During proceedings, the prosecution sought to tender the extra-judicial statements of the defendants. Defence counsel objected, questioning their admissibility and voluntariness under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Justice James Omotosho ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements. After the witness testified that the statements were made without threats or inducement and in the presence of counsel, the court admitted them in evidence.

Following cross-examination, the judge discharged the witness and adjourned the case to February 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.