EFCC Witness Alleges Kogi Funds Were Used to Buy Prime Abuja Properties in Ali Bello Trial

Story: Written by Amarachi February 10,2026

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that funds from the Kogi State Government House administration account were allegedly diverted to acquire high-value properties across the Federal Capital Territory.
Testifying on Monday, Ahmed Abubakar, the 17th prosecution witness, appeared before Justice James Omotosho in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the EFCC, Bello is standing trial alongside Dauda Sulaiman on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering involving N10.27 billion. A third defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu, a former government house cashier, is currently on the run.
Abubakar told the court that N900 million was allegedly used to purchase a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, popularly known as Spring Hall School. He said the money was withdrawn from the Kogi Government House account, converted to foreign currency through a bureau de change operator, Rabiu Tafada, and paid in cash at a Zone 4 office in Abuja, with a lawyer identified as Ramalan facilitating the transaction.
The witness tendered a deed of assignment, marked as Exhibit H, involving Pauchi Ventures Nigeria Limited and Y3 Nigeria Limited.
On a separate count, Abubakar alleged that N920 million was used to acquire another property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudi (Oguta) Street, Asokoro. He claimed the transaction was brokered by former governor Yahaya Bello through a contractor linked to Wastle Motors, owned by Sa’id Dantsoho.
He further told the court that the payments were structured “in kind,” with loan repayments allegedly settled through cash deposits in Lokoja and transfers from Tafada’s bureau de change firm, Busynet. As of March 21, 2018, the loan facility reportedly stood at N808.7 million, with multiple cash deposits traced to Access Bank’s Lokoja branch in April 2020, allegedly sourced from the government house account.
Abubakar also testified that investigators tracked N170 million to the purchase of a property on Marsin Street, Wuse Zone 4, with N100 million paid directly to the seller and N70 million converted to US dollars. Additional properties on Guzape Street, Lome Street in Wuse, and Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, were also allegedly linked to withdrawals from the same Kogi government account.
He stressed that none of the transactions were carried out on behalf of the Kogi State Government.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to February 16–20, 2026, for continuation of trial.