Yahaya Bello vs EFCC "Abba Daudu called me to say that they have a transaction though it was on the weekend, but I drove down to the office and waited for them to come. Upon their arrival, three of them came. One of them stayed in the car with the driver, two of them walked to my office and a friend of Abba Daudu was holding black leather bag containing $300,000. - BDC Operator. Witness said on Thursday.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, he provided an account of the financial dealings between himself and the Kogi State government during the tenure of former governor Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal high court.

The summary highlights how the former governor consistently covered the school expenses for his three daughters in U.S. dollars, utilizing his own resources and companies for these payments.

Ali Bello, who currently serves as the Chief of Staff to Usman Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State, is the nephew of Yahaya Bello. He is facing legal action from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 18 separate charges related to money laundering and misappropriation, amounting to over N3 billion. This prosecution also involves Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat.

The witness added, “Upon entering, he greeted and Abba Daudu introduced him as his friend and business partner saying he has a transaction. He dropped $300,000 in cash. I wanted to count the dollars before they left, but I could not due to the power outage. I told him I cannot use my hands and needed to confirm that it was $300,000, so I locked the dollars in my office safe and two of them left. Then, Abba Daudu’s friend said when I confirmed the sum, details will be forwarded to me for payment. However, the sum of $300,000 attracts some service charges which he said I should calculate and let Abba Daudu know. After I completed the transfer, I forwarded four receipts indicating $75,000 four times to Abba Daudu, and he confirmed to me that the payment was confirmed successfully.”

When asked about the transactions outlined in Exhibit D on Pages 50, 52, and 53, he responded affirmatively, stating,“Yes I know the transactions of $75,000, being paid to the school four times totalling, the sum of $300,000 as forwarded by Abba Daudu and further confirmed that the fees was paid for one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters.

“And the name of the recipient is Naima Ohunene Bello.”

He noted that an additional payment of fees was made by a company named Aleshua Solutions Services, which he mentioned contributed $42,170 on behalf of Naima Ohunene Bello.

"It was paid on behalf of the student Naima Ohunene Bello for school fees based on the instruction and as forwarded by Abba Daudu, and the date is 24th January, 2022.”

On Page 7 of the Exhibit D, was $78,160 he identified as payment for school fees 

through Aleshua Solutions Services in respect of another Yahaya Bello’s daughter, Fatima Oziohu Bello. 

“Based on the receipt before me, I am seeing acknowledgement of $78,135 being paid for Fatima Bello and on the Aleshua Solutions Services.”