A Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that he facilitated foreign exchange transactions worth over N1.4 billion for one Abba Adaudu in two months to pay the school fees of children of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.
Mr Bello and his co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, are currently on trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving N110 billion before Justice Maryanne Anenih.
Mr Abdullahi, a witness for the federal government, stated during a hearing on Thursday that between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, he received over N1.4 billion to deliver United States dollars to Mr Adaudu.
The witness was led in evidence by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has told the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that transactions amounting to ₦1.425 billion were carried out for the purchase of foreign currencies between December 15 and February 21, 2022.
“The witness, a bureau de change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, who testified as Prosecution Witness 19, PW19, said he delivered the foreign currencies purchased through the transactions to Abba Adaudu,” the EFCC said in a statement on Thursday.
The witness also told the court that he received the cash lodgments into his personal bank accounts and others associated with his company, including an Access Bank account and that the payments were made by Mr Adaudu, who would then send United States dollars back to him, according to the anti-graft agency.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” Mr Abdullahi explained, while noting that he sometimes handed the purchased dollars to Mr Adaudu at his own office and on other occasions at Mr Adaudu’s office in Abuja.
Mr Abdullahi also revealed in court that he became familiar with accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas during the transactions, “stating that they were the accounts used for paying the school fees of Mr Bello’s children at the American International School, Abuja at the behest of the former governor”.
During cross-examination by counsel of the first and second defendants, Abdullahi Yahaya, a senior advocate of Nigeria, the witness said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants.
Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, to continue the trial.