The trial of Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness linking him to funds allegedly traced to the Kogi State Government.
Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to ₦10,270,556,800.
Testifying as the 17th prosecution witness before Justice James Omotosho, EFCC investigator Ahmed Audu Abubakar identified financial records marked as Exhibit F, detailing inflows and outflows of funds uncovered during investigations.
According to the witness, a $91,000 outflow dated February 5, 2021, was paid to “Oga Ali,” which he said referred to the first defendant, Ali Bello. He also cited entries dated February 19, 2021, showing payments of ₦10 million to “Alhaji Ali” and ₦500,000 to “Daud,” identified as the second defendant, Dauda Sulaiman.
The witness further testified that ₦150 million was transported from Lokoja to a bureau de change operator through an individual identified as Abdulrasheed. Additionally, he referenced transfers totaling ₦100 million to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company for the purchase of Plot 1060 in Gwarimpa, Abuja. An irrevocable power of attorney for the property was tendered and admitted as Exhibit Q.
During proceedings, defence counsel objected to the admissibility of the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, arguing non-compliance with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act regarding voluntariness and audio-visual recording.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements. After hearing arguments and testimony, the court admitted the statements into evidence.
Following cross-examination by defence counsel, the witness was discharged. The court adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
