ABUJA—The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the DSS and Nigeria Police Force to look into a court registrar for allegedly tampering with evidence, which dramatically changed the course of Ali Bello’s trial. Ali Bello is the nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Along with co-defendant Dauda Sulaiman, Bello is charged with ten counts related to alleged involvement in a N10.27 billion fraud. Abdulsalami Hudu and other suspects are still at large, according to the EFCC.
During the proceedings, Justice James Omotosho revealed that Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, the court registrar, had admitted that Sulaiman had asked him to remove incriminating WhatsApp conversations from his cell phone that were previously designated as Exhibits N and O. The registrar was called to testify after the judge aired his recorded confession in court.
Zubairu admitted he only accessed two chats and was unable to remember the details, but he told the court that Sulaiman offered him a house to delete some of the messages. Several texts from 2020 to 2022 have been removed, according to EFCC investigation officer Muhammad Audu Abubakar. includes messages discussing the millions of naira that were sent.
Under the direction of Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the prosecution asked the court to revoke Sulaiman’s bail and mandate a forensic examination of the altered exhibits. However, the defense asked the court to hold off until the investigation’s conclusion.
Following that, Justice Omotosho postponed the trial until Monday and sent the case to the police and DSS for additional investigation.
According to the EFCC accusation, Bello and Sulaiman stole money from the Kogi State treasury and gave it to Rabiu Tafada, a Bureau de Change operator in Abuja, for their own benefit. The amounts in question, which violate the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011, are N5.86 billion and N2.5 billion, which are the proceeds of criminal misappropriation.
