A bureau de change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that he handled foreign exchange transactions worth N1.425 billion between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, on behalf of Abba Adaudu.
Nigeria’s antigraft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a statement on Thursday reported that Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness, PW19, in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, said he delivered the foreign currencies purchased through the transactions to Adaudu.
According to the statement, the witness gave the testimony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, before Justice Maryanne Anineh.
Reviewing transaction records tendered as exhibits, Abdullahi identified several cash deposits and bank transfers into accounts linked to him and his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited.
He maintained that the funds were payments for foreign exchange transactions initiated by Adaudu and not gifts or personal deposits.
While examining Exhibit AR, which covered transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, the witness confirmed receiving cash lodgments of N10 million each made by Adaudu through a bank branch in Lokoja.
“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 funds were used to purchase United States dollars.
Abdullahi also identified a January 18, 2022, transfer from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, insisting that the payment was equally meant for foreign exchange.
However, when confronted with deposits of N9 million, N8 million and another N8 million recorded in his name through the Lokoja branch on February 22, 2022, the witness denied making the deposits personally.
“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 deposits recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022, maintaining that he had never visited the branch and that the names appearing in transaction narrations depended on the instructions accompanying the payments.
“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,” he said.
The witness added that he consistently delivered the purchased currencies to Adaudu, sometimes at his own office and on other occasions at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
Abdullahi also identified Exhibit AK as his personal account with Access Bank’s Aminu Kano branch in Abuja.
He confirmed cash deposits of N10 million each on December 29 and 30, 2021, and January 1 and 31, 2022, but said the transactions were undertaken by Adaudu for foreign exchange purposes.
Regarding his company’s accounts, the witness identified a N100 million credit from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, which he attributed to Adaudu.
He also confirmed a N400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited and three transfers of N100 million each, totalling N300 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. He said the latter company also belonged to Adaudu.
Another transfer of N325 million through Ejadams Essence Limited on February 21, 2022, was similarly linked to Adaudu. The witness maintained that the transactions were for foreign exchange and that he handed the currencies purchased to Adaudu.
On payments to the American International School, Abuja, AISA, Abdullahi explained that he became familiar with accounts associated with Forza Oil, Alyeshua and Whales Oil and Gas because they were used to pay school fees for children whose payment details were supplied to him by Adaudu.
He identified Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as names associated with the school-fee transactions, adding that he transferred the funds to the school’s account using the details provided by Adaudu.
The witness also identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as receipts confirming the payments. He said he forwarded the receipts to Adaudu as evidence of completed transactions and received no complaints from him or the children regarding the payments.
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 handed over to Adaudu, the witness said he could not recall the exact figure because of the volume of transactions.
“I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” he told the court.
Justice Anineh subsequently 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 a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion.
