A Bureau De Change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama that transactions amounting to N1.425 billion were carried out for the purchase of foreign currencies within two months in connection with the alleged N110.4 billion fraud case involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Mr Abdullahi, who testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19), disclosed this on Thursday before Justice Maryanne Anineh while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
He said the forex transactions took place between 15 December 2021 and 21 February 2022 and that he delivered the foreign currencies purchased to one Abba Adaudu.
Mr Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion.
Explaining the transactions, the witness identified several cash lodgments and transfers into accounts associated with him and his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, stating that the transactions were carried out for foreign exchange purposes on behalf of Mr Adaudu.
While examining Exhibit AR, which contained transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, Mr Abdullahi confirmed cash lodgments of N10 million each made by Mr Adaudu through the Lokoja branch.
“My lord, I confirm the cash lodgments of N10, N10 million by Abba Adaudu from the Lokoja branch. My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn’t for a gift but for a forex transaction,” he said.
He said the transactions were for the purchase of United States dollars.
The witness also identified a transfer dated 18 January 2022 from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Mr Adaudu, adding that the transaction was not a gift but for foreign exchange.
On cash lodgments dated 22 February 2022, comprising N9 million, N8 million and another N8 million recorded in his name through the Lokoja branch, Mr Abdullahi denied personally making the deposits.
“In fact, I have never been to that branch in my life, but my name has been used as a beneficiary, as any other person’s name can be used as the receiver, and it was a dollar transaction for Abba Adaudu,” he said.
He gave a similar explanation for multiple cash lodgments recorded against his name on 10 and 11 March 2022, insisting that he had never visited the Lokoja branch.
According to him, the names used in the transaction narrations depended on Mr Adaudu’s instructions.
“My lord, I get to know the cash was paid on Abba Adaudu’s behalf because whenever he makes a lodgment of cash in my account, the indicating narration is Abba Adaudu or Jamilu Abdullahi or any other name of their choice,” he said.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” he added.
Mr Abdullahi also identified Exhibit AK as his personal account with Access Bank, Aminu Kano branch, Abuja. He confirmed entries indicating cash lodgments of N10 million each on 29 and 30 December 2021, and 1 and 31 January 2022, but maintained that the deposits were made by Mr Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions.
He said he sometimes handed the purchased dollars to Mr Adaudu at his own office and, on other occasions, at Mr Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
On transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, which he identified as his company, Mr Abdullahi confirmed a credit entry of N100 million from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, which he said was made by Mr Adaudu.
He also identified a N400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited attributed to Mr Adaudu, as well as multiple transfers of N100 million each, totalling N600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on 18 February 2022, and a N325 million transfer through the same company on 21 February 2022.
He said Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Mr Adaudu and maintained that the transactions were for foreign exchange.
The witness further said he became familiar with accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas, stating that they were the accounts used in making payments to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for school fees on behalf of children whose payment instructions and account details were provided to him by Mr Adaudu.
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He identified the names Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as familiar names associated with the school fees transactions.
He also identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as receipts evidencing payments made to AISA, saying he sent the receipts to Mr Adaudu as proof that the transactions had been completed.
When asked whether he received any complaint from Adaudu or the children concerning the payments, the witness answered in the negative.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the first and second defendants, Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, the witness said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants.
When asked about the total amount he gave Mr Adaudu, Mr Abdullahi said he could not remember the exact sum because the transactions were numerous. “I gave Abba Adaudu the cash, and I have evidence,” he said.
Following the testimony, Justice Anineh adjourned the case until 27 October and 24 November 2026 for continuation of the trial.
