A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that transactions totalling ₦1.425 billion were carried out for foreign exchange purchases between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022.
The witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator who testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19), said the foreign currencies purchased through the transactions were delivered to Abba Adaudu.
Abdullahi gave the testimony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
Explaining the transactions, the witness identified several cash lodgments and transfers into accounts associated with him and his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited. He maintained that the funds were provided by Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions.
While examining Exhibit AR, which contained transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, Abdullahi confirmed cash lodgments of ₦10 million each made by Adaudu through the Lokoja branch.
“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 told the court.
He explained that the transactions were for the purchase of United States dollars.
The witness also identified a January 18, 2022, transfer from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, insisting that the payment was for foreign exchange and not a gift.
On cash lodgments of ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million recorded on February 22, 2022, in his name through the Lokoja branch, 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 March 10 and 11, 2022, maintaining that he had never visited the Lokoja branch.
According to him, the names used in the transaction narrations depended on 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,” the witness said.
Abdullahi added that he consistently delivered the converted foreign currencies to Adaudu.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” he told the court.
The witness also identified Exhibit AK as his personal Access Bank account at the Aminu Kano branch in Abuja. He confirmed entries showing cash lodgments of ₦10 million each on December 29 and 30, 2021, and January 1 and 31, 2022, but said the deposits were made by Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions.
He testified that he sometimes handed the purchased dollars to Adaudu at his own office and, on other occasions, at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
On transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, Abdullahi confirmed a ₦100 million credit entry from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, which he attributed to Adaudu.
He also identified a ₦400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited, as well as multiple transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. He said Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Adaudu.
The witness further identified a ₦325 million transfer through Ejadams Essence Limited on February 21, 2022, also attributing it to Adaudu. He maintained that the transactions were for foreign exchange and that he delivered the currencies purchased to him.
SCHOOL FEES TRANSACTIONS
Continuing his testimony, Abdullahi explained his familiarity with accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua, and Whales Oil and Gas, saying they were used to make payments to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for school fees.
He told the court that Adaudu supplied the payment instructions and account details for the transactions, which were made on behalf of children whose names included Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello.
The witness identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as receipts evidencing payments made to the school. He said he forwarded the receipts to Adaudu as proof that the transactions had been completed.
Asked whether Adaudu or the children had complained about the payments, Abdullahi answered in the negative.
During 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 Adaudu, he said he could not remember 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 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 bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
