The Tenth Prosecution Witness, PW10, Fabian
Nwaora in the trial of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman on Tuesday,
March 25, 2025 told the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by
Justice J.K. Omotosho that investigations by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, forced Bello to withdraw from acquiring an
Abuja property, located on No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District and
asked for a refund of N550million he paid.
The EFCC is
prosecuting Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman on a 10-count
charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo, SAN, the witness who sold the property to Ali Bello stated
that upon being aware that the property had come under EFCC’s
investigation, the defendant came to him asking for refund.
“We didn’t know the matter had been investigated
until Bello got back to me and said the property he bought had a problem,
that the case is before EFCC. I said ‘okay what do you want us to do’, he
said he wanted me to give him the money back and collect my house. I sought the
approval of my lawyer. My lawyer said since the matter is being
investigated by the EFCC we cannot do so, because he knew we would be invited
by the EFCC. When the EFCC invited us, we explained and they said the matter
was under investigation that we should return the money that they paid to us
and take back my house that they wanted to recover the money,” he said.
Further in his testimony, he stated
that the EFCC informed them that the defendant was under
investigation and ordered them to return the money paid on the
property and retake possession of it because the
Commission was on a mission to recover money from the defendant.
“We made arrangements and returned the money to EFCC,
they said we should take our house back. There was an account number that they
gave to us and I think it was a federal government’s account. The first
batch was N4000,000,000 (Four Hundred Million) and the second batch
was N150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira). The account they
gave us I know is from the federal government and is for recovery purposes.
“We paid it in Naira because when they brought dollars
to my manager I was not around and, I think he called the bureau de
change and changed the money to Naira. That is what we received and
then returned the money in Naira,” he said.
During his cross-examination by counsel
to the defendants, the witness confirmed that the property sold was
located on No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District,
Abuja.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till April 14
and May 7 and 9 2025 for continuation of trial.
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