WITNESS TELLS COURT HOW N950M MAITAMA PROPERTY WAS ALLEGEDLY PURCHASED IN DOLLARS IN YAHAYA BELLO TRIAL

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A prosecution witness on Friday narrated before the Federal Capital Territory High Court how a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, was allegedly acquired for the naira equivalent of ₦950 million paid in United States dollars.

The witness, Ramalan Abdullahi, testified before Justice Maryanne Anineh in the ongoing trial of former Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, the witness told the court that sometime in January 2022, a friend contacted him regarding the property and requested that he conduct due diligence on it.

“I 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,” Abdullahi told the court.

Asked who he interfaced with concerning the transaction, the witness replied that he dealt with Ali Bello through Shehu Bello.

“Ali Bello through Shehu Bello. The payment of the property was in naira. Paid in dollars equivalent to 950 million naira,” he said.

Abdullahi, a legal practitioner with the Federal Capital Development Authority, further testified that he prepared and handed over the title documents relating to the property to Ali Bello.

“I was given a name White Tree Nigerian 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,” he stated.

According to the witness, the instruction to use White Tree Nigeria Limited came directly from Ali Bello.

“The person that gave me the name of White Tree Limited was Ali Bello,” he added.

Speaking on the payment process, Abdullahi maintained that the entire amount for the property was paid in dollars.

During cross-examination by counsel to the first and second defendants, Abdullahi Yahaya, the witness confirmed that he had earlier testified before the Federal High Court.

When asked whether he received instructions to work for a specific person, he replied: “Yes. I received the instruction from Shehu Bello.”

Under further cross-examination by counsel to the third defendant, Z. E. Abbas, Abdullahi stated that he never met Abdulsalami Hudu.

Earlier in the proceedings, Pinheiro informed the court that the matter had previously been adjourned for ruling on pending applications and continuation of trial if time permitted.

He also disclosed that the prosecution had served the third defendant’s counsel with an application seeking suspension and stay of proceedings.

Responding, Abbas argued that the application was not ripe for hearing because it was served on him around 4pm on Thursday and requested an adjournment till Tuesday.

Pinheiro opposed the request, arguing that the third defendant’s application was similar to that earlier filed by the first and second defendants.

“The third defendant is arguing the same thing. Same prayers. If my application is granted, it will affect their application too because it’s the same prayers. It will save time,” he said.

However, Abbas disagreed, insisting that the applications were different.

Justice Anineh subsequently ruled that the third defendant could move his application on the next adjourned date.

Thereafter, the prosecution informed the court of its decision to withdraw an application dated May 6, 2026.

“My lord, the application I wish to withdraw is dated 6th of May, 2026. We have already argued it,” Pinheiro said.

With no objection from the defence team, Justice Anineh granted the application for withdrawal.