Justice Omotosho Exits N10bn Fraud Case Involving Ali Bello

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the N10.27 billion alleged money laundering case involving Ali Bello, the nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The withdrawal was announced on Thursday after Justice Omotosho expressed concerns regarding unresolved allegations of evidence tampering that could significantly impact the no-case submission filed by the defendants, Ali Bello and co-defendant Dauda Sulaiman.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged the defendants over an alleged financial transaction involving N10,270,556,800 withdrawn from the Kogi State treasury. The prosecution had completed its case with 17 witnesses and documentary evidence.

The tampering issue arose when it was revealed that Sulaiman allegedly approached court registrar Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu to delete WhatsApp messages from evidence. Justice Omotosho had ordered investigations by the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force and directed that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment.