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Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Witness Narrates How Ali Bello Paid Millions In Cash For Maitama Property Project
Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Witness Narrates How Ali Bello Paid Millions In Cash For Maitama Property Project
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.
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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.

Fraud
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.
News
IGP Disu Received Tomáš Výprachtický, Ambassador Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Of Czech Republic To Nigeria
IGP Disu Received Tomáš Výprachtický, Ambassador Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Of Czech Republic To Nigeria
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, received His Excellency Tomáš Výprachtický, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
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The visit provided an opportunity for constructive engagement, as both parties explored areas of mutual interest and underscored the importance of collaboration in enhancing security cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.

NPF, Czech Republic
The IGP appreciated the visit and reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to working closely with international partners towards strengthening policing standards and ensuring improved safety and security across the country.
News
Nigeria Champions Coordinated Migration Governance And Diaspora Partnership At UN Migration Forum In New York
Nigeria Champions Coordinated Migration Governance And Diaspora Partnership At UN Migration Forum In New York
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration, while strengthening diaspora engagement as a strategic pillar for national development.
The Minister made this known at the ongoing International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States, where he is leading Nigeria’s delegation and preparing to deliver the country’s official statement on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
The high-level Nigerian delegation includes the leadership of the Nigeria Immigration Service, National Population Commission, National Human Rights Commission, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
Their participation reflects Nigeria’s whole-of-government approach towards migration governance and underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to coordinated institutional responses to migration, humanitarian affairs, and social protection challenges.
Serving as Co-Chair of Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement, the Honourable Minister emphasized the growing need for countries to adopt more integrated and development-oriented migration systems capable of responding to contemporary realities.
He noted that migration governance must move beyond fragmented interventions and instead prioritize coordination, data-driven systems, and stronger partnerships capable of delivering measurable outcomes for citizens.
According to Dr. Doro, platforms such as the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit and diaspora-focused financial instruments are already being leveraged to promote investment, innovation, and skills transfer among Nigerians abroad.
He stressed that these initiatives reflect a broader strategic shift towards recognizing diaspora communities not merely as beneficiaries of protection systems, but as active partners in national growth and socio-economic transformation.
The Minister further stated that deliberations at the Forum have reinforced key priorities around expanding migrant access to healthcare and education, strengthening diaspora engagement, improving remittance systems and financial inclusion, advancing portability of social protection benefits, and promoting inclusion and human rights within migration systems.
He noted that such priorities strongly align with Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at integrating migration governance with broader humanitarian and poverty reduction frameworks.
Drawing from ongoing conversations at the Forum and recent national policy engagements, Dr. Doro reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to ending fragmented humanitarian interventions and building a unified system that connects humanitarian support with measurable development outcomes.
He stressed that migration governance must ultimately contribute to economic inclusion, resilience, and long-term stability for vulnerable populations.
The Honourable Minister also called for stronger international cooperation and practical implementation mechanisms capable of translating policy commitments into tangible impact.
“This roundtable provides an opportunity to collectively strengthen preventive protection mechanisms, improve coordination, and identify scalable solutions that support a more proactive and inclusive migration system,” he stated during the engagement.
He further encouraged participating countries, development partners, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders to share concrete experiences and innovative models capable of addressing emerging migration realities.
According to him, global migration governance must increasingly be built on collaboration, shared responsibility, and sustainable partnerships that protect migrants while unlocking development opportunities.
The Honourable Minister concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s resolve to continue championing migration systems that are safe, dignified, people-centred, and development-driven. He noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

Just In
Nigeria remains committed to strengthening institutional coordination, deepening global partnerships, and ensuring that migration contributes meaningfully to national development and shared prosperity for all Nigerians.
The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026), which runs from May 5–8 at the United Nations Headquarters, serves as the principal intergovernmental platform for reviewing global progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
The Forum brings together Heads of State, Ministers, development institutions, academia, civil society, and private sector actors to strengthen cooperation and advance migration-related commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Janet MCDickson Noah
Director, Press and Public Relations
News
Alleged $1.5m Fraud: Court Dismisses Preliminary Objections, Bail Application Of Intermediate Investment Holdings Boss, in Lagos
Alleged $1.5m Fraud: Court Dismisses Preliminary Objections, Bail Application Of Intermediate Investment Holdings Boss, in Lagos
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, dismissed the preliminary objections and bail application filed by the boss of Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited, Ufoma Joseph Immanuel, over an alleged $1.5 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, arraigned Immanuel, alongside his company, Intermediate Investment Holdings Ltd., on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and forgery to the tune of $1.5m.
Eereporter.com
Count one reads: “UFOMA JOSEPH IMMANUEL and INTERMEDIATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED between April 2022 and October 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced Adebisi Adebut of R28 Holdings Limited to deposit the total sum of S1, 500, 000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars USD) as investment described as to wit: “Cash and or Capital Cost in Chappal Petroleum Development Company Limited; Business Development Cost in Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited: Capital and or Capital Call in Chappal Energies Mauritius Limited” on the understanding that R28 Holdings Limited will be; (a) reimbursed the investment amount (b) paid a Development Capital fee of $2 250,000.00. (Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars) (c) 22.4% worth of shares in Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited which representation you knew to be false.”
Count two reads: “UFOMA JOSEPH IMMANUEL, sometime between April 2022 and April 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, forged a document to wit: TERM SHEET and purporting same to have been executed by Sheriff Oluwo and Olaniran Osotuyi in order to facilitate your obtaining money by inducement from Adebisi Adebutu of R28 Holdings Limited.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
Following the defendant’s “not guilty” plea, prosecution counsel, Babatunde Sonoiki, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, pending the conclusion of its investigation.
Sonoiki also narrated how the defence counsel, Oluseun Awonuga, SAN, had physically assaulted his colleague, Emenike Mgbemele, at the sitting on March 2, 2026.
According to him, “My lord, the learned silk, physically assaulted my colleague on the staircase on his way to serve the defendant the charge as directed by the court.
“There is a video to that effect and we intend to tender it before the court.”
Though Awonuga did not respond to the allegation made against him by the prosecution counsel, he informed the court of a preliminary objection and a written address dated January 5, 2026, while urging the court to discountenance the counter-affidavit of the prosecution.
The prosecution, in a 21-paragraph counter-affidavit dated February 9, 2026, had urged the court to dismiss the notice of preliminary objections.
According to Awonuga, the Federal High Court, in a ruling, had ordered the EFCC not to arrest the defendant.
“EFCC has flouted the order by arresting the defendant and I hereby urge your lordship to discountenance their counter- affidavit,” he said.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Sonoiki, said that the ruling was part of the motion that had earlier been withdrawn by the defence and should not be before the court.
“ There is nowhere in the ruling that says the defendants cannot be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction. My lord, the ruling was delivered in a civil case; and according to the Supreme Court, a criminal case and civil case can go on at the same time”

Court
“We urge the court to dismiss the application and order accelerated hearing in this case,” Sonoiki had said.
After listening to both parties, Justice Dada had, consequently, adjourned the case till May 7, 2026 ( today) for ruling.
Ruling on the application , Justice Dada held that: “The preliminary objection is baseless and the entire application is lacking in merit; and it is hereby dismissed.”
Also, Justice Dada, in her ruling on the bail application of the defendant, held that “On the basis of considering the antecedent of the defendant for not honouring the invitation of the applicant after he was granted administrative bail, I agree with the complainant that he is a flight risk; therefore, bail is refused.”
Justice Dada adjourned the case till June 24, 26, 29 and 30, 2026 for the commencement of trial.
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