BDC operator explains roles in payment of Yahaya Bello’s children’s dollar-priced school fees

A bureau de change (BDC) operator on Thursday explained his roles in the payments of the dollar-denominated school fees of the children of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Jamilu Abdullahi, who testified before the FCT High Court in Abuja in Mr Bello’s corruption trial, said he received about N1.4 billion within two months from Abba Adaudu, an associate of the former governor, to buy foreign exhange.

Mr Abdullahi, presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the 19th prosecution witness, said he received money through his accounts from Mr Adaudu between 15 December 2021 and 21 February 2022, during Mr Bello’s time in office, to purchase US dollars.

“My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” he said.

He further said he used the proceeds of the dollars purchased with the funds he received from Mr Adaudu to make payments for Mr Bello’s children at the elite American International School of Abuja (AISA).

“I carried out the transactions upon the receipt of the school fees from Abba Adaudu to effect transfers to AISA on behalf of the names and the account details for the school, provided for the transfers, and it was concluded successfully to AISA’s account,” the witness said.

The EFCC suspects that the amount is part of N110.4 billion that Mr Bello, alongside his co-defendants – Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – allegedly diverted from Kogi State’s coffers while he served as governor between January 2016 an January 2024.

The trio are facing 16 counts of criminal breach of trust involving N110.4 billion allegedly diverted from the Kogi State treasury.

EFCC alleged that part of the funds was used to buy properties in highbrow areas of Abuja.

The anti-graft agency also accused Mr Bello, who is vying for the Kogi Central Senatorial District seat in the 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, of using part of the diverted funds to make upfront payments of his children’s school fees.

However, Mr Bello and his co-defendants, whom EFCC said conspired with him to commit the crimes, have denied the allegations.

Details of transactions

In March, Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor with AISA, confirmed that the former governor’s children enrolled in the school as Zahra Fatima, Na’ima, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello.

Mr Okehone confirmed the upfront payment of their school fees until graduation with telex copies of payments from TD Bank in the US.

Mr Okehone said Ali Bello, a nephew of Mr Bello and chief of staff to the incumbent Kogi State governor, signed the agreement for prepaid school fees until graduation “for the family of Bello and for “Future students to be enrolled: Zayyan Ali Bello.”

He further gave details of the US dollar-denominated payments for the children by Forza Oil and Gas and Whales Oil and Gas and Forza Oil and Gas and Aleshua Solutions.

Mr Abdullahi, who started testifying in June before the court went on vacation, admitted knowing Forza Oil and Gas Limited, Whales Oil and Gas and Alesua Solutions Services.

On Thursday, he said they were companies his colleagues used to pay school fees for the Bello children.

Asked by EFCC’s prosecution lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to confirm if the former governor’s children were Fatima, Zahra, Naima and Zayyan, the witness said, “The names sound familiar and were used for payment of school fees to AISA.”

He noted that his colleagues paid the school fees through him because he did not have money in his offshore account.

Mr Abdullahi also identified the telexes in court, explaining that he sent them to Mr Adaudu.

Funds for forex transactions

He also confirmed receiving funds from Mr Adaudu for forex transactions through his companies’ accounts. the companies are E-traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun, De-Remita International Limited.

Similarly, he said Mr Adaudu deposited cash into his accounts from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital city, using the name, Jamilu Abdullahi.

The witness, who already appeared in a sister trial at the Federal High Court where Mr Bello is also facing related N80.2 billion money laundering charges, suggested that Mr Adaudu as a close associate of the former governor.

In his Thursday’s testimony, he identified a transfer dated 18 January 2022 from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Mr Adaudu.

He maintained that the transaction was not a gift but was equally meant for foreign exchange.

On cash lodgments dated 22 February 2022, comprising N9 million, N8 million and another N8 million, which were 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.

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During cross-examination by Mr Bello’s lawyer Abdullahi Yahaya, a SAN, the witness said he did not transact “directly” with Mr Bello and his co-defendants.

He also said their names did not appear in connection to any cash lodgements into his accounts.

When asked if his company E-traders is licensed for forex trading, the witness said he could not recall.

Asked to tell the court the equivalent of the foreign currencies he gave to Mr Adaudu, the witness said he could not remember the exact sum because the transactions were numerous.

He, however, added, “I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence.”

Thereafter, the trial judge, Maryann Anenih, adjourned the case until 27 October.