The ongoing trial over the alleged ₦10.27 billion fraud involving Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a prosecution witness detailed how funds were allegedly routed through bureau de change (BDC) operators to associates.
Testifying
The ongoing trial over the alleged ₦10.27 billion fraud involving Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a prosecution witness detailed how funds were allegedly routed through bureau de change (BDC) operators to associates.
Testifying before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the 17th prosecution witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, told the court that Bello used BDC channels to move money to individuals described as his cronies.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the defendant had, in an extra-judicial statement, acknowledged both inflows and outflows of funds through the BDC system.
“The second column shows that the utilisation of the funds in the BDC were carried out by the instruction of the first defendant, most of them are the cronies of the first defendant. In the extrajudicial statement that was taken he has already made a statement as to the inflows and the outflows,” Abubakar said.
The witness further alleged that the funds were expended not only for Bello but also for the former governor, Yahaya Bello.
He listed several alleged transactions, including payments to an NGO identified as Mother Care Welfare, said to be linked to the former governor’s wife, as well as individuals such as Mumuni Benghazi of Wuse, Abuja.
“The spending of the money is for the first defendant and for the former governor. Some of the beneficiaries were the cronies of the first defendant. Some of the money was for payment for the first defendant or the former governor. We have Mother Care Welfare, an NGO belonging to the wife of the governor. We have Mumuni Benghazi, a resident of Benghazi Street,” he said.
Abubakar also told the court that a total of ₦100 million was paid to a person identified as Dantata in two tranches, ₦80 million initially and ₦20 million to complete the sum. Other payments included ₦19 million to Sunny Benghazhi and funds disbursed to CI Automobiles.
"I remember the payment of N100 million for the first defendant to Dantata. We have payment for one of the properties for N80 million.
“We have CI Automobiles, paid to CI Automobiles. The second payment for Dantata is N20 million to complete the N100 million. We have Sunny Benghazhi, N19 million, Mother Care Welfare is also here. Exhibit R and S. These are the statements of the defendant before my lord,” the witness added.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Ahmed Raji, SAN, and O. Jolaooyo, SAN, the testimony was scrutinised as the defence sought to challenge the claims.
Following proceedings, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to May 6, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
Ali Bello, who currently serves as Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Dauda Sulaiman on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to over ₦10 billion.
