Aminu Rabiu, the seventh prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman, told an Abuja Federal High Court on Monday that he received over N1 billion to renovate former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello’s houses.

Rabiu, an Abuja-based businessman with Falala Construction and Interior Decoration Company, said that individuals connected to Bello paid him in cash.

“I know the immediate past governor of Kogi State; his name is Alhaji Yahaya Bello. I knew him through his wife, Amina Yahya Bello, sometime in 2009,” Rabiu told the court.

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He also testified that he knew Ali, Bello’s nephew, and Sulaiman.

Rabiu said that Bello owns properties in Jabi at No. 9 Benghazi, No. 9 Sabi Street, Zone Four and No. 1 Ikogosi Maitama. He said the former governor also owns a house in GRA Okene. 

“No 9 Benghazi, I renovated the house, furnishing and furniture. I was paid about three hundred and something million naira. They paid me by cash installments,” Rabiu explained.

“At Jabi, I did renovations, finishing and polishing. I was paid around N200 million by cash installments.

“Life Camp, yes, I did furnishing and polishing. I can’t remember, but it is around N200 million cash.”

READ ALSO: EFCC Declares Yahaya Bello Wanted Over N80b Fraud

Rabiu also told the court that he operates a Zenith Bank account in his company’s name: Falala.

He also said that he rebuilt a lodge for the state government and remodelled another house in Kogi.

“I did one job for the state government. I demolished and rebuilt the Presidential Lodge. I was paid around six hundred and something million naira, and there is a variation of above N100 million. The state government paid into my account,” Rabiu said.

“I also worked in Kogi State, Okene. I did renovation; I remodelled the house and the finishing. It was around N500 million. They paid me in cash. They were made in Abuja.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Bello Wanted in April for laundering over N80 billion when he was Kogi governor.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello, Bello’s nephew; and Dauda Sulaiman on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Ali and Sulaiman’s trial continues on Tuesday.