Court admits Ali Bello statements in ₦10bn fraud trial

Nkereuwem Effiong

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has affirmed the voluntariness of extra-judicial statements made by Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman in an ongoing alleged ₦10bn fraud trial.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Wednesday, following a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were obtained voluntarily.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello—nephew of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello—alongside Sulaiman on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering totalling ₦10,270,556,800.

According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the trial-within-trial was conducted to establish the admissibility of eight extra-judicial statements made by the defendants during the investigation.

The defendants had opposed the tendering of the statements, alleging that they were made under duress and threats.

However, in his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the evidence before the court showed that the defendants’ counsel was present when the statements were taken and had endorsed them as voluntary.

“It is clear that the defendants had their counsel present during the taking of both statements, and the investigative team allowed counsel to be present and even endorsed some of the statements as confessional and voluntarily obtained,” the judge said.

He added that the process complied with Sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The court subsequently ruled that the statements were admissible, having been made voluntarily.

The judge admitted the first defendant’s statements, previously marked as Exhibits TWA–TWA5, as Exhibits R2–R5 in the main trial. The second defendant’s statements, marked as Exhibits TWB and TWB1, were also admitted as Exhibits S and SW1.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until 21 and 24 April 2026 for the prosecution to close its case.