A bureau de change (BDC) operator has told a high court in Abuja that he converted about N1.4 billion received from Abba Adaudu, an associate of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, into dollars to pay the school fees of the ex-governor’s children.
Jamilu Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness in Bello’s N110.4 billion fraud trial, told the court on Thursday that he received the funds between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, for foreign exchange transactions.
“My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgements. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” he said.
Abdullahi said the transactions were used to pay the school fees of Bello’s children at the American International School of Abuja (AISA).
“I carried out the transactions upon the receipt of the school fees from Abba Adaudu to effect transfers to AISA on behalf of the names and the account details for the school, provided for the transfers, and it was concluded successfully to AISA’s account,” he said.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts of criminal breach of trust. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the funds form part of N110.4 billion diverted from Kogi state funds during Bello’s tenure as governor, from January 2016 to January 2024.
Abdullahi said his colleagues used him to facilitate the school-fee payments because he had no funds in his offshore account.
He identified Forza Oil and Gas, Whales Oil and Gas, and Alesua Solutions Services as companies his colleagues used in connection with the payments.
He also confirmed receiving funds through accounts belonging to E-Traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun and De-Remita International Limited for foreign exchange transactions.
A bureau de change (BDC) operator has told a high court in Abuja that he converted about N1.4 billion received from Abba Adaudu, an associate of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, into dollars to pay the school fees of the ex-governor’s children.
Jamilu Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness in Bello’s N110.4 billion fraud trial, told the court on Thursday that he received the funds between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, for foreign exchange transactions.
“My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgements. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” he said.
Abdullahi said the transactions were used to pay the school fees of Bello’s children at the American International School of Abuja (AISA).
“I carried out the transactions upon the receipt of the school fees from Abba Adaudu to effect transfers to AISA on behalf of the names and the account details for the school, provided for the transfers, and it was concluded successfully to AISA’s account,” he said.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts of criminal breach of trust. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the funds form part of N110.4 billion diverted from Kogi state funds during Bello’s tenure as governor, from January 2016 to January 2024.
Abdullahi said his colleagues used him to facilitate the school-fee payments because he had no funds in his offshore account.
He identified Forza Oil and Gas, Whales Oil and Gas, and Alesua Solutions Services as companies his colleagues used in connection with the payments.
He also confirmed receiving funds through accounts belonging to E-Traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun and De-Remita International Limited for foreign exchange transactions.
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