EFCC denies threatening Ali Bello, co-defendant with electric chair in N10b Kogi fraud trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday dismissed claims that Ali Bello, nephew of Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor, and Dauda Sulaiman, his co-defendant, were threatened with an electric chair while making statements in the agency’s custody.

The revelations came during a trial-within-trial at the Federal High Court, Maitama, presided over by James Omotosho.

A Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Yazid Bawa, an EFCC investigator, testified that contrary to the defendants’ allegations, no threats or coercion were applied to compel them to provide their statements.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecution, Bawa stated, “No one threatened them. In fact, I have never seen one before.”

He emphasised that the statements were made voluntarily.

Similarly, the Third Prosecution Witness (PW3), Adamu Yusuf, who headed the EFCC team investigating the case, corroborated that the defendants were not intimidated during the statement-taking process.

He noted that the defendants’ counsel, Abbas, was present throughout, and even during lunch breaks, proceedings continued normally.

Yusuf added that the statements, marked as Exhibits TWT A and B, contained cautionary words signed by the defendants, and no force was applied.

Read also: How Ali Bello used Kogi funds to buy Abuja properties – EFCC witness tells court

The witness also explained that Sulaiman’s detention was due to his failure to produce a surety.

Regarding the absence of audio-visual recording, Yusuf said the statements were confessional and that defence counsel did not raise any complaints about maltreatment.

During cross-examination, A.M. Aliyu, counsel for Ali Bello, claimed that EFCC officers threatened his client with indefinite jail time if he did not attribute certain properties to Yahaya Bello.

Yusuf denied this allegation, stating, “My lord, that is not true.”

At the end of Tuesday’s proceedings, both defence teams requested an adjournment to February 18, 2026, to open and close their cases.

Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to Ahmed Ododo, Governor of Kogi State, and Sulaiman face an amended 16-count charge of misappropriation and money laundering totalling N10,270,556,800.

The trial-within-trial was instituted to determine whether the defendants’ extrajudicial statements were made voluntarily, in light of their claims that the EFCC obtained them under duress.

Omotosho (Justice) adjourned the case for continuation of the hearing on February 18.