A prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged ₦10 billion Kogi State fraud trial on Monday, February 9, 2026, told the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how funds allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account were used to acquire luxury properties across the Federal Capital Territory.
The witness, identified as PW17, is a Deputy Superintendent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), DCE Ahmed Audu Abubakar. He testified before Justice James Omotosho in the trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and a nephew of former governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Ali Bello is standing trial alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu, a former cashier of the Kogi State Government House Administration Account who is currently at large. The defendants are facing a 16-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering involving ₦10,270,556,800.
According to the EFCC, the funds were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State treasury and handed over to a Bureau de Change operator in Abuja, Rabiu Tafada, to be kept or converted to foreign currencies for personal use.
At the resumed hearing, Abubakar told the court that the first defendant allegedly used ₦900 million to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which houses Spring Hall School.
“My lord, the property belonged to a serving Honourable from Bauchi State and was offered for sale. The first defendant engaged a lawyer, Barrister Ramalan, to facilitate the transaction. Payment was made in cash at a Bureau de Change office in Zone 4, Abuja, after converting the naira equivalent to dollars,” the witness said.
He added that the funds used for the transaction were withdrawn in batches from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.
When shown Exhibit H by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abubakar confirmed it was a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, noting that Y3 Nigeria Limited was the company provided by Ali Bello for the transaction.
Testifying on count four of the charge, Abubakar said ₦920 million was allegedly used to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (also referred to as Oguta) Street, Asokoro, Abuja. He disclosed that the transaction was brokered by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the witness, the property was owned by a contractor who had acquired it through Wastle Motors, owned by Alhaji Sa’id Dantsoho, and financed through a loan facility from Access Bank. Payments toward servicing the loan were allegedly made through numerous cash deposits from Lokoja and transfers from the Bureau de Change operated by Rabiu Tafada and his company, Busynet, all on the instruction of Ali Bello.
He told the court that as of March 21, 2018, the total loan facility stood at ₦808,698,263.29.
Abubakar further revealed that on April 8, 2020, several cash deposits were made at the Lokoja branch of Access Bank by multiple individuals toward loan repayment, adding that all payments were made in cash and traced to the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.
On count five, the witness testified that ₦170 million was allegedly used to purchase a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, directly behind the former governor’s residence on Benghazi Street. He said ₦100 million was paid into the seller’s bank account, while ₦70 million was converted to United States dollars.
He also told the court that ₦100 million was used to acquire a property at No. 1773 Guzape Street, Abuja, through a Bureau de Change, while another property at No. 176, Plot 4882, Lome Street, Wuse, Abuja, was similarly funded from the same government account.
On count eight, Abubakar said ₦66 million was paid in cash for a property at Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, stressing that the purchase was not made on behalf of the Kogi State Government.
The witness had earlier testified on how large sums were allegedly moved from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account and security votes to acquire properties and renovate the family residence of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.