A prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged N110.4 billion fraud trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how a property worth the naira equivalent of N950 million was allegedly purchased in United States dollars.
The witness, Ramalan Abdullahi, who testified as PW15 before Justice Maryanne Anineh, said the property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, was linked to Ali Bello through Shehu Bello.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Abdullahi told the court that he became involved in the transaction in January 2022 after a friend contacted him to conduct due diligence on the property.
“I picked a call from my friend who informed me that some agents introduced him to this property to sell and that I can conduct due diligence on it,” he said.
When asked who he dealt with regarding the purchase, Abdullahi said: “Ali Bello through Shehu Bello. The payment of the property was in naira. Paid in dollars equivalent to 950 million naira.”
The witness, a legal practitioner with the Federal Capital Development Authority, also told the court that he prepared title documents for the property transfer.
According to him, White Tree Nigeria Limited was named as the assignee in the deed of assignment between Palchi Ventures Nigeria Plc and the company.
“I was given a name White Tree Nigerian Limited as the assignee. I prepared the deed of assignment between Palchi Ventures Nigeria Plc and White Tree Nigeria Limited as the assignee for the deed of assignment. And the power of attorney was given to the same party,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the instruction to use White Tree Nigeria Limited came directly from Ali Bello.
“The person that gave me the name of White Tree Limited was Ali Bello,” he stated.
He further told the court that the entire payment for the property was made in dollars.
During cross-examination by counsel to the first and second defendants, Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, the witness confirmed that he had earlier testified before the Federal High Court and that he received instructions from Shehu Bello regarding the transaction.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the third defendant, Z. E. Abbas, Abdullahi said he never met Abdulsalami Hudu.
Earlier, prosecution counsel informed the court that the matter had previously been adjourned for rulings on pending applications and continuation of trial proceedings.
Counsel to the third defendant sought an adjournment after receiving a fresh prosecution application late on Thursday, arguing that it was not ripe for hearing.
However, prosecution counsel opposed the request, maintaining that the issues raised were similar to earlier applications filed by the other defendants and that hearing them together would save time.
Justice Anineh ruled that the third defendant could move his application at the next adjourned date.
The prosecution also withdrew an earlier application dated May 6, 2026, without objection from the defence team.
Meanwhile, Abbas moved an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court and asked for the trial to be struck out.
Responding, prosecution counsel Adetokunbo argued that the application lacked merit because the applicant was not a defendant in the cases before the Federal High Court that formed the basis of the argument.
He also maintained that the charges before Justice Anineh differed from those before the Federal High Court, noting that the present case centred on criminal breach of trust.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Anineh discharged PW15 and adjourned the matter till May 22, 2026, for rulings on the pending applications, while trial continuation was fixed for June 16 and 17, 2026.
