'How Kogi gov’s aide diverted state's funds to acquire property in Abuja,' EFCC's witness tells court
An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ahmed Abubakar, gave details of how Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to the current Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed
An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ahmed Abubakar, gave details of how Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to the current Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, allegedly diverted the state's funds to acquire property in Anuja.
Abubakar, an investigator with the EFCC, said most payments for the property located in many parts of Abuja were purchased with Kogi State's funds warehoused with bureau de change operators in Abuja.
He spoke while testifying on Monday as the 17th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Bello and his associate, Dauda Suleiman, for allegedly laundering about N10nillion.
Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Abubakar, who read from several documents already tendered in court, gave details of how funds were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi Government House Administration's accounts in Zenith Bank and UBA.
He said on 20th April 2021, N100million was withdrawn from the UBA account of the Govt House account, while on April 21, 2021, one Abdulsalam Hudu withdrew N90m from the same account, who also withdrew N50m from the account on April 22, 2021.
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The witness said the source of the money, which was later warehoused with BDC operators in Abuja, was the Kogi State Govt House Administration's accounts.
Abubakar said the investigation did not reveal that the BDC operators had a contract with the Kogi State Government or that they were helping the state to coordinate some projects.
The witness also said the property allegedly bought in Abuja with the funds was not purchased on behalf of Kogi State or any of its agencies.
Abubakar confirmed that the two defendants were alleged, count one of the charge on which they are standing trial, to have conspired to launder about N80b.
He said as alleged in count two, Bello (the first defendant) acquired a property at 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja at N900m.
The witness said the property used to be owned by a House of Representatives member from Bauchi State and that the property was paid for in the dollar equivalent of the N900m in cash in the office of a BDC operator in Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja.
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Abubakar said the money was part of all the withdrawals from the account of the Kogi government house.
He said the investigation revealed that the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, used N920m to acquire a property at No 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa St, Asokoro, Abuja, which was paid for with the state's funds
The witness said the property was earlier bought by Yahaya Bello's friend, a car dealer, whose company is West Wood Motors Limited, from whom the ex-Governor bought while in office and made payment over time, through cash deposits from Lokoja.
The witness said the defendants also bought a property at 170m on Masini Street, Wuse Zone 4, which is directly behind the house of the former Governor, which is on Benghazi Street.
PW17 said the property was bought in cash from the former owner, a former prison official, identified as Ishaya Adamu Jagaba.
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Abubakar said the investigation revealed that the N100m allegedly used by the first defendant to buy a property at 1773 Guzape Street, Abuja, was part of the funds handed to the BDCs after withdrawals from the Kogi State Govt House Administration's accounts.
He confirmed that the investigation revealed that the defendants aided in the use of N110m to acquire a property in Lome St, Wuse, Abuja, and another property situated at Aminu Kanu Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, which was acquired at N66m.
The witness said the defendants used N375 million to renovate a property located at 6 Dala Hills. He, however, said that the investigation did not reveal how the property was acquired because the investigators could not locate the old owner.
Further hearing in the case resumes on February 16 before Justice James Omotosho.
