Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Witness Narrates How Ali Bello Paid Millions in Cash for Maitama Property Project
Abuja, Nigeria — May 7, 2026
A prosecution witness, PW14, Shehu Bello, on Thursday narrated before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how Ali Bello allegedly made several cash payments amounting to millions of naira for the construction of a property located at Plot 1891, Dala Hills, Maitama, Abuja.
The witness gave the testimony during the continuation of hearing in the alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello over allegations bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the witness explained that his involvement in the Maitama property project began after Ali Bello approached him to recommend a reputable construction company.
“My friend Ali Bello approached me if I knew any good construction company that could build a house for him, so I recommended a company, Metro Deck Construction Company Limited. I brought them and he gave them the job to build the house for him,” the witness told the court.
Speaking further, Shehu Bello disclosed that Ali Bello made payments to the construction company through both bank transfers and cash transactions.
“Ali Bello made transfers to them and on some occasions he paid them in cash,” he said.
When asked about the specific cash payments he was aware of, the witness stated that the payments were made in naira and included ₦9 million, ₦8.5 million and ₦5.8 million.
“The ones that I’m aware of; ₦9 million, ₦8.5 million and ₦5.8 million, these are the only three payments I am aware of in cash,” he added.
The witness also testified regarding another property situated at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja, which he said Ali Bello intended to develop into a shopping complex.
According to him, Ali Bello had requested his assistance in sourcing a suitable property in the area.
“My friend Ali Bello asked me if I can get him a property around Wuse II, where he can build shops. After we spoke, I went out and got some people and spoke with colleagues of mine. We got a plot of land in that location, Wuse II Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Abuja, Durban Street,” he said.
He further disclosed that the property was acquired from SFC Foods Limited for ₦650 million through a bank transfer.
“It was bought from SFC Foods Limited. The amount paid was ₦650 million. The payment was made in bank transfer,” the witness stated.
During proceedings, the witness confirmed making statements to the EFCC during the course of investigations and identified the documents presented to him in court as his statements.
“Yes, it’s my statement, it carries my signatures on all pages,” he affirmed.
Following the confirmation, prosecution counsel Enitan sought to tender the witness’s extra-judicial statements as evidence before the court.
However, defence counsel, Adebayo Adedeji, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the prosecution could not rely on the extra-judicial statement of its own witness as substantive evidence.
“The extra-judicial statement sought to be tendered this morning by the prosecution as though it constitutes substantive evidence in support of the prosecution’s case is a misconception of the law and inadmissible at this stage,” Adedeji argued.
He maintained that such statements could only be used by the defence to challenge the credibility of a witness.
Responding, Enitan described the objection as misconceived, insisting that the witness had acknowledged the statements and that the documents were relevant to the matter before the court.
“The witness has given his evidence on oath, he has owned the statement and I urge your lordship to admit it,” he said.
