An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how funds allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account were used to acquire luxury properties across the Federal Capital Territory.
Testifying on Monday before Justice James Omotosho, EFCC Deputy Superintendent Ahmed Abubakar, a prosecution witness identified as PW17, said hundreds of millions of naira linked to the alleged ₦10bn Kogi fraud were traced to high-end real estate transactions in Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalami Hudu, a former government cashier who is currently at large. They are facing a 16-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering.
According to the witness, the defendants allegedly laundered ₦10.27bn withdrawn from the Kogi State treasury through a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada, converting large sums to foreign currency for personal use.
Abubakar told the court that Ali Bello allegedly used ₦900m to purchase a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja. He said the transaction was conducted through a lawyer and paid for in cash after conversion to dollars at a Bureau de Change office in Zone 4, Abuja.
The witness added that the funds used for the Maitama property were withdrawn in batches from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account. He also identified a Deed of Assignment between Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited, stating that Y3 Nigeria Limited was provided by the first defendant for the transaction.
On another count, the EFCC alleged that ₦920m was used to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi Street, Asokoro. Abubakar said the deal was allegedly brokered by former governor Yahaya Bello through a contractor who had financed the property with a bank facility.
He explained that loan repayments were allegedly made through multiple cash deposits and transfers from a Bureau de Change, all traced to instructions from Ali Bello. The witness said the loan stood at over ₦808m as of March 2018 and was serviced using cash deposits made in Lokoja in April 2020.
Abubakar further testified that ₦170m was used to buy a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, behind the former governor’s residence, while additional properties were acquired in Guzape, Wuse, and Wuse II using funds traced to the same government account.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.
