By Lami Ibrahim
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how billions of naira allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account were used to acquire luxury properties in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
Testifying on Monday before Justice James Omotosho, the prosecution witness, PW17, a Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, gave details of investigations into alleged misappropriation and money laundering involving over ₦10.2 billion.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and a former cashier of the Government House Administration Account, Abdulsalami Hudu, who is currently at large.
The defendants are facing a 16-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering.
According to the witness, large sums were allegedly withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account and delivered to a Bureau de Change operator in Abuja for conversion to foreign currencies, mainly United States dollars, before being used to acquire properties for personal use.
Abubakar told the court that investigators uncovered the purchase of a luxury property in Maitama valued at about ₦900 million.
He said the transaction was brokered through a lawyer engaged by the first defendant, with payment made in cash at a Bureau de Change office after the naira equivalent was converted to dollars.
He added that the funds were traced to multiple withdrawals from the Government House Administration Account.
When shown a deed of transfer tendered by the prosecution, the witness confirmed that it documented the Maitama property transaction and that the purchasing company was provided by the first defendant.
The witness further narrated how another property in Asokoro, valued at about ₦920 million, was acquired through a more complex arrangement allegedly involving the former Kogi State governor.
He said the former governor personally negotiated the deal with a contractor who had recently purchased the property through a vehicle dealership company.
According to Abubakar, it was agreed that the property would be sold at the same price it was originally acquired, with repayment structured around a bank loan.
Although a commercial bank facility was obtained to complete the transaction, he said repayments were allegedly made through cash deposits and transfers traced to Lokoja and the same Bureau de Change operator earlier identified by investigators.
He told the court that the loan facility stood at over ₦808 million as of March 2018 and was serviced through numerous cash deposits paid into a bank branch in Lokoja, all of which allegedly originated from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account.
The court also heard that additional properties in Wuse, Guzape and other prime districts of Abuja were acquired using funds allegedly withdrawn from the same account.
In one instance, Abubakar said about ₦170 million was used to purchase a property located behind the Abuja residence of the former governor, with part of the payment made through a bank transfer while the balance was converted to United States dollars.
He added that several of the transactions were brokered by the first defendant alongside Bureau de Change operators, some of whom are now deceased, and that the payments bore no connection to any legitimate government transaction.
The EFCC witness reminded the court that he had earlier testified on how large sums were allegedly moved from the Government House Administration Account and security votes to acquire properties and renovate the former governor’s family residence.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter to February 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
