An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness on Monday linked a series of fund transfers traced to the Kogi government to Ali Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of the state, in the ongoing N10.2 billion fraud trial at the federal high court in Abuja.
Ahmed Abubakar, the 17th prosecution witness and an EFCC investigator, informed the court that financial documents obtained during the probe outlined inflows and outflows allegedly associated with Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Sulaiman.
Ali, a nephew of Yahaya Bello, former Kogi governor, alongside Sulaiman, is being tried on a 16-count amended charge involving alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to N10,270,556,800.
While being led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC, Abubakar identified exhibit F as a record of transaction entries discovered during the investigation.
The witness told the court that a $91,000 transaction dated February 5, 2021, was made to “Oga Ali”, which he said referred to Ali Bello.
He also pointed to a N150,000 outflow dated February 6, 2021, recorded as payment to “Rashido”. According to Abubakar, “Rashido” referred to Abdulrasheed, who allegedly travelled from Lokoja to move funds, adding that N150 million was transported from the Kogi capital to a bureau de change operator.
Further entries dated February 19, 2021, showed N10 million paid to Ali Bello and N500,000 to Sulaiman.
Abubakar stated that references such as “Alhaji Ali” and “Daud” in the financial records corresponded to the first and second defendants respectively.
Regarding payments connected to account number 1000688500 belonging to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, the witness said transfers of N80 million and N20 million — totalling N100 million — were linked to Plot 1060 in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
“There were 10 entries of N10 million each, making a total of N100 million. The source is Maigari Murtala, an ally of the first defendant and a contact of the bureau de change operator,” he said.
The court admitted an irrevocable power of attorney for the property as Exhibit Q.
TRIAL-WITHIN-TRIAL
Proceedings were temporarily paused after the prosecution sought to tender extrajudicial statements made by the defendants in November and December 2022.
Defence counsel objected, arguing that the statements failed to comply with sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), particularly concerning voluntariness and audio-visual recording requirements.
After hearing submissions from both parties, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, directed that a trial-within-trial be conducted to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily.
During the mini trial, Abubakar maintained that the statements were obtained without any form of coercion.
“In EFCC, we have a standard. No threats, no promises, and statements were taken in the presence of their counsel, with Z.E. Abbas being the most present,” he said.
Following the trial-within-trial, the court admitted the statements into evidence after the defence raised no further objections.
The matter was adjourned to February 17 for continuation.