₦110.4Bn Kogi Case: Witness Says ₦1.425Bn Went Into Forex Transactions
By Sunday Etuka
A Bureau de Change (BDC) operator has told an Abuja court that he received about ₦1.425 billion over a two-month period to buy foreign currencies, and that he delivered every dollar purchased to Abba Adaudu.
Jamilu Abdullahi, who appeared as the 19th prosecution witness, PW19, in the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, said the transactions ran from December 15 to February 21, 2022.
He testified on Thursday, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
Going through Exhibit AR, which covers transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, Abdullahi confirmed cash lodgments of ₦10 million each made by Adaudu through the Lokoja branch.
“I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn’t for a gift but for a forex transaction,” he said, adding that the money was meant for the purchase of United States dollars.
He also identified a January 18, 2022, transfer from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, and insisted it was not a gift but a foreign exchange payment.
Abdullahi denied personally making cash lodgments of ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million recorded in his name on February 22, 2022, at the Lokoja branch.
“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 the same explanation for several lodgments recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022. According to him, the names appearing in the narrations depended on Adaudu’s instructions.
“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. He added that he always sent the converted forex to Adaudu.
The witness identified Exhibit AK as his personal account with Access Bank, Aminu Kano branch, Abuja.
He confirmed ₦10 million cash lodgments on December 29 and 30, 2021, and on January 1 and 31, 2022, but maintained that Adaudu made the deposits for foreign exchange transactions, not himself.
He said he sometimes handed the dollars to Adaudu at his own office and at other times at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
On transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, which he identified as his company, Abdullahi confirmed a ₦100 million credit from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, which he said Adaudu made.
He also identified a ₦400 million transfer from Keyless Nature Limited, attributed to Adaudu, and transfers of ₦100 million each, totaling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022.
He said Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Adaudu. A further ₦325 million transfer through Ejadams Essence Limited on February 21, 2022, was also attributed to Adaudu, and he said it was likewise for foreign exchange.
Abdullahi further explained that Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas were the accounts used to pay school fees to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for children whose details were supplied to him by Adaudu.
He said the names Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello were familiar to him in connection with the payments, and that another name mentioned was also familiar although he could not recall it precisely.
He said he made the payments to the school’s account using the details Adaudu provided.
He identified Exhibits AX 10 (1 to 4), described as telexes, as receipts for the AISA payments, and said he forwarded them to Adaudu as proof of completion. Asked whether Adaudu or the children ever complained about the payments, he answered in the negative.
Under cross-examination by Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, counsel to the first and second defendants, the witness said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants.
Asked for the total amount he gave Adaudu, he said he could not recall the exact figure because the transactions were numerous. “I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” he said.
Justice Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
