A bureau de change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that he handled foreign exchange transactions worth N1.425 billion for Abba Adaudu between December 2021 and February 2022.
Mr Abdullahi, a prosecution witness in the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, said he delivered the foreign currencies purchased through the transactions to Mr Adaudu.
The witness, who testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19), made the disclosure on Thursday while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, before Justice Maryanne Anineh.
Mr Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu over alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge.
While examining Exhibit AR, which contained transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, Mr Abdullahi identified several cash lodgments and transfers into accounts linked to him and his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited.
He said the transactions were carried out for foreign exchange purposes on behalf of Mr Adaudu.
The witness confirmed cash lodgments of N10 million each made by Mr Adaudu through the Lokoja branch, insisting that the payments were not gifts.
“My lord, I confirm the cash lodgments of ten, ten million Naira by Abba Adaudu from the Lokoja branch. My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” he said.
He explained that the transactions were for the purchase of United States dollars.
Mr Abdullahi also identified a transfer dated January 18, 2022, from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Mr Adaudu, adding that the money was meant for foreign exchange.
However, when shown cash lodgments of N9 million, N8 million and another N8 million dated February 22, 2022, and recorded in his name through the Lokoja branch, the witness denied making the deposits personally.
“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 March 10 and 11, 2022, insisting that he had never visited the 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.
The witness maintained that the transactions were for foreign exchange and that he routinely handed the converted currencies to Mr Adaudu.
“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’s Aminu Kano branch in Abuja.
He confirmed entries showing cash lodgments of N10 million each on December 29 and 30, 2021, as well as January 1 and 31, 2022.
He, however, said the deposits were made by Mr Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions and not by him personally.
The witness told the court that he sometimes delivered 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 his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, Mr Abdullahi confirmed a credit entry of N100 million from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021.
He attributed the transfer to Mr Adaudu.
He also identified a N400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited, which he similarly linked to Mr Adaudu.
The witness further identified multiple transfers of N100 million each, totalling N600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. He said the company belonged to Mr Adaudu.
He also attributed a N325 million transfer through Ejadams Essence Limited on February 21, 2022, to Mr Adaudu, maintaining that the funds were for foreign exchange and that he delivered the purchased currencies to him.
The witness also explained his involvement in payments of school fees to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for children whose payment instructions and account details were supplied to him by Mr Adaudu.
He said accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas were used to make the payments.
Mr Abdullahi identified Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as names familiar to him in connection with the school fees transactions.
He said he transferred the funds to the school’s account using details provided by Mr Adaudu.
The witness also identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as receipts showing payments made to the school.
He said he forwarded the receipts to Mr Adaudu as evidence that the payments had been completed.
When asked whether Mr Adaudu or the children had complained about the payments, the witness answered in the negative.
During cross-examination by Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr Abdullahi said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants.
Asked about the total amount he handed to Mr Adaudu, the witness said he could not recall the exact sum because the transactions were numerous.
“I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” he told the court.
Following the testimony, Justice Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for continuation of the trial.