A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that ₦1.425 billion was used for foreign exchange transactions between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022.
The witness, bureau de change operator Jamilu Abdullahi, who testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19), said he purchased foreign currencies on behalf of Abba Adaudu and delivered the currencies to him. He gave the testimony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
While examining Exhibit AR, which contained transactions recorded between July 2021 and April 2022, Abdullahi confirmed cash lodgments of ₦10 million each made by Adaudu through the Lokoja branch. He maintained that the payments were for foreign exchange transactions and 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 told the court, explaining that the transactions were intended for the purchase of United States dollars.
The witness also identified a transfer dated January 18, 2022, from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu. He maintained that the transfer was equally meant for foreign exchange transactions.
However, when asked about cash lodgments of ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million recorded against his name on February 22, 2022, through the Lokoja branch, Abdullahi denied personally making the deposits. He said he had never visited the branch, adding that his name had been used as a beneficiary in the transactions.
“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.
Abdullahi 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 Lokoja branch. According to him, the names appearing in the transaction narrations depended on the instructions given by Adaudu.
“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.
He added that the transactions were carried out for foreign exchange purposes and that he consistently delivered the converted 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 account with Access Bank 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 maintained that the deposits were made by Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions rather than by him personally.
Abdullahi further explained that he sometimes delivered 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, which he identified as his company, the witness confirmed a credit entry of ₦100 million from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021. He told the court that Adaudu made the transfer.
He also identified a ₦400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited, which he attributed to Adaudu, and multiple transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. According to him, Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Adaudu.
The witness further identified a transfer of ₦325 million through Ejadams Essence Limited on February 21, 2022, which he also attributed to Adaudu. He maintained that the transactions were for foreign exchange and that he delivered the currencies purchased to Adaudu.
Continuing his testimony, Abdullahi explained how he became familiar with accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas. He said the accounts were used to make payments to the American International School of Abuja (AISA) for school fees on behalf of children whose payment instructions and account details were provided to him by Adaudu.
The witness identified Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as names familiar to him in connection with the school fee transactions. He also said another name mentioned to him was familiar, although he could not recall it precisely.
According to Abdullahi, he made the school fee payments by transferring funds to the school’s account using details supplied by Adaudu. He identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as receipts evidencing the payments, adding that he sent the receipts to Adaudu as proof that the transactions had been completed.
When asked whether he received any complaints from Adaudu or the children concerning the payments, the witness 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. 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 said.
Justice Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, on 16 counts bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion. The charges remain allegations to be determined by the court.