Joseph Bakare
A prosecution witness, PW14, Shehu Bello, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that Ali Bello made several cash payments running into millions of naira for the construction of a property located at Plot 1891, Dala Hills, Maitama, Abuja.
The witness, who testified during continuation of hearing in the alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, disclosed that the payments he was aware of included ₦9 million, ₦8.5 million and ₦5.8 million, all paid in cash.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Bello on an alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80,246,470,088.88.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the witness explained that his involvement in the Maitama property began after Ali Bello approached him to recommend a construction company for the project.
“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 said.
Speaking further on how payments were made to the construction company, the witness stated that Ali Bello made payments both through bank transfers and cash transactions.
“Ali Bello made transfers to them and on some occasions he paid them in cash,” he said.
Asked in which currency the payments were made, the witness said the cash payments were made in naira.
“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 said.
The witness also testified regarding another property located at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja.
According to him, Ali Bello had requested his assistance in sourcing a property in Wuse II for the purpose of developing shops.
“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 purchased from SFC Foods Limited for ₦650 million through bank transfer.
“It was bought from SFC Foods Limited. The amount paid was ₦650 million. The payment was made in bank transfer,” he stated.
Further in his testimony, the witness confirmed making statements to the EFCC during investigation of the case and identified the documents shown to him in court as his statements.
“Yes, it’s my statement, it carries my signatures on all pages,” he said.
Following the confirmation, Enitan sought to tender the witness’s extra-judicial statements in evidence.
However, defence counsel, Adebayo Adedeji, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the prosecution could not tender 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,” he argued.
Adedeji maintained that such statements could only be used by the defence for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of a witness.
Responding, Enitan described the defence’s objection as misconceived, insisting that the witness had acknowledged making the statements and that the documents were relevant to the case.
“The witness has given his evidence on oath, he has owned the statement and I urge your lordship to admit it,” he said.
He further argued that by virtue of the provisions of the Evidence Act, once a document is relevant and the maker is called as a witness, the document becomes admissible, subject to the weight the court may attach to it.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till June 15 and 18, 2026 for ruling on the admissibility of the statements and continuation of trial.