ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially closed its case against Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, after presenting a total of 17 witnesses to prove an alleged N10.27 billion fraud.
The high-profile trial, which is being held before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, centers on an amended 16-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering. The anti-graft agency alleges that the duo diverted exactly N10,270,556,800.00 from the Kogi State Government House administration accounts during the tenure of the first defendant’s uncle, former Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Final Showdown in the Witness Box
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the prosecution’s star investigator and 17th witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, concluded his extensive testimony. Under re-examination by the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abubakar shed more light on the financial paper trail.
During the proceedings, the court admitted into evidence four critical statements made in August and September 2024 by Abdulsalam Hudu, the former cashier of the Kogi State Government House Administration. Hudu, who remains a key figure in the investigation, had his statements marked as Exhibits B1, B2, B3, and B4 after the defense raised no objections.
When prompted by the prosecution to identify specific transactions within the documents, Abubakar pointed out an entry from August 14, 2024. Reading directly from the exhibit, the investigator noted a transaction involving N300,000 received from Ali Bello through a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator. According to the document, the funds were ostensibly meant for purchasing books to support a community school project.
Tracing the Billions: Properties and BDC Inflows
Throughout the trial, the EFCC has built its case around claims that state funds were systemicially funneled through BDC operators to acquire luxury real estate across Abuja. Previous testimonies by Abubakar revealed that investigators traced part of the N10.2 billion to the purchase of high-end properties:
- Maitama: A property at No. 35 Danube Street, allegedly acquired for N900 million.
- Guzape: A property at Plot 1773, valued at N100 million.
- Wuse Zone 4: A property on Marsin Street, involving a N170 million transaction.
- Wuse II: Prime commercial locations along Aminu Kano Crescent.
The prosecution maintained that none of these real estate acquisitions were executed on behalf of the Kogi State Government or its subsidiaries. Furthermore, earlier testimonies detailed a sequence of multi-million naira cash tranches and foreign currency exchange transactions—including a single transfer of $91,000 paid to an individual identified in logbooks as “Oga Ali”.
Defense Moves for “No-Case Submission”
Following the formal closure of the EFCC’s case, lead counsel for the first defendant, A. M Aliyu, SAN, alongside counsel for the second defendant, notified the court of their intention to file a “no-case submission.”
A no-case submission is a procedural defense prayer arguing that the prosecution has failed to present any prima facie evidence linking the defendants to the crime, thereby rendering a defense unnecessary.
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The defense requested a four-day window to submit their written address. In response, Oyedepo requested three days to file the prosecution’s reply, leaving the defense an additional 24 hours to respond on points of law.
Justice Omotosho granted all the structural time applications and subsequently adjourned the matter until June 15, 2026. On that date, both legal teams will formally adopt their written addresses, leaving the court to decide whether Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman must enter a defense or walk away vindicated.
