By Oscar Okhifo<\/p>\n
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday presented a witness before the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, who testified that a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, was allegedly acquired for the naira equivalent of \u20a6950 million, with payment made in United States dollars.<\/p>\n
The witness, Ramalan Abdullahi, a legal practitioner with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), told the court that the property transaction formed part of the ongoing trial involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.<\/p>\n
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving \u20a6110.4 billion.<\/p>\n
A prosecution witness on Friday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, was allegedly purchased for the naira equivalent of \u20a6950 million paid in United States dollars in a transaction linked to Ali Bello.<\/p>\n
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Abdullahi told the court that sometime in January 2022, a friend contacted him over the property and requested that he conduct due diligence on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI picked a call from my friend who informed me that some agents introduced him to this property to sell and that I can conduct due diligence on it,\u201d the witness said.<\/p>\n
Asked who he interfaced with as the buyer of the property, Abdullahi replied: \u201cAli Bello through Shehu Bello. The payment of the property was in naira, paid in dollars equivalent to \u20a6950 million.\u201d<\/p>\n
The witness further disclosed that he prepared and handed over the title documents for the property to Ali Bello.
\nAccording to him, the transaction was executed in the name of White Tree Nigeria Limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was given a name, White Tree Nigeria Limited, as the assignee. I prepared the deed of assignment between Palchi Ventures Nigeria Plc and White Tree Nigeria Limited as the assignee for the deed of assignment. And the power of attorney was given to the same party,\u201d he told the court.<\/p>\n
Abdullahi added that the instruction to use White Tree Nigeria Limited came directly from Ali Bello.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe person that gave me the name of White Tree Limited was Ali Bello,\u201d he said, adding that the entire payment for the property was made in dollars.<\/p>\n
During cross-examination by counsel to the first and second defendants, Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, the witness confirmed that he had previously testified before the Federal High Court and stated that he received instructions from Shehu Bello regarding the transaction.<\/p>\n
Under cross-examination by counsel to the third defendant, Z. E. Abbas, the witness said he never met Abdulsalami Hudu.
\nEarlier in the proceedings, prosecution counsel informed the court that the matter had been adjourned for rulings on pending applications and possible continuation of trial.<\/p>\n
Counsel to the third defendant, Abbas, sought an adjournment after informing the court that an application filed by the prosecution was served on him late Thursday.<\/p>\n
However, the prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the application filed by the third defendant was similar to those already filed by the first and second defendants and that hearing them together would save time.<\/p>\n
Justice Anineh subsequently ruled that the third defendant could move his application at the next adjourned date.<\/p>\n
The prosecution later withdrew an application dated May 6, 2026, after informing the court that it had already been argued. The withdrawal was granted without objection from defence counsel.<\/p>\n
Moving his application challenging the jurisdiction of the court, Abbas urged the court to strike out the trial, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
\nResponding, prosecution counsel Adetokunbo argued that the application was defective and maintained that the charges before Justice Anineh were distinct from those before the Federal High Court.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo my lord it is apparent that the two charges are different and distinct,\u201d he submitted.<\/p>\n
He further urged the court to dismiss what he described as \u201cthis unworthy application.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned ruling on the three pending applications to May 22, 2026, while fixing June 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.<\/p>\n
The court subsequently discharged the witness from the witness box, bringing Friday\u2019s proceedings to a close.<\/p>\n
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