Abuja, Nigeria – The trial of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman before Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, continued on Monday, July 15, 2024, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its seventh Prosecution Witness (PW7).
Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 10-count charge of money laundering. The PW7, Aminu Rabiu, a businessman with Falala Construction and Interior Decoration Company, Abuja, testified that he received over N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) in cash installments for the renovation of properties belonging to the former Kogi State governor, Yahya Bello.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Rabiu detailed that the payments were for the renovation of houses located in various parts of Abuja and Kogi State. He recounted meeting Yahya Bello through his wife, Amina Yahya Bello, in 2009.
“Yes, I know the immediate past governor of Kogi State, his name is Alhaji Yahya Bello. I knew him through his wife, Amina Yahya Bello sometime in 2009,” Rabiu testified. He confirmed that the properties in question, including those located at Jabi, No. 9 Benghazi Street, No. 9 Sabi Street Zone Four, No. 1 Ikogosi Maitama, and a house in GRA Okene, belong to Yahya Bello.
Rabiu described receiving payments in cash installments, with the least amount being Eight Million Naira, from various people on behalf of Yahya Bello at No. 9 Benghazi Street and sometimes at Life Camp in Ali Bello’s house. He outlined the work and payments for the properties:
- Renovation, furnishing, and furniture at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Abuja: Approximately Three Hundred Million Naira paid in cash installments.
- Renovations, finishing, and polishing at Jabi: Approximately Two Hundred Million Naira paid in cash installments.
- Furnishing and polishing at Life Camp: Approximately Two Hundred Million Naira paid in cash installments.
Rabiu also mentioned that his company, Falala Construction, has a bank account with Zenith Bank, which he used to receive money. He described a project in Kogi State where his company demolished and rebuilt the Presidential Lodge, receiving over Six Hundred Million Naira from the state government.
“I did one job for the state government. I demolished and rebuilt the Presidential Lodge, I was paid around Six Hundred and something Million Naira and there is a variation of above One Hundred Million. The state government paid into my account,” Rabiu said.
Additionally, Rabiu worked on a property in Okene, Kogi State, where he remodeled and finished a house for around Five Hundred Million Naira, with payments made in cash in Abuja.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to July 16, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.