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The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, continued on Thursday with a prosecution witness detailing how large sums of cash were converted to United States dollars and handed to an associate of the ex-governor.
The witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that multiple cash deposits were made into accounts linked to his companies and subsequently converted to dollars for Abba Adaudu, whom the prosecution identified as a key associate of Mr Bello.
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Mr Abdullahi, the 12th prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), testified before the trial judge, Emeka Nwite.
Led in evidence by prosecution lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the witness said several deposits were made on different dates into the account of E-Traders International Limited.
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“Yes, my lord, there are more cash deposit transactions on different days into E-Traders International Limited,” Mr Abdullahi explained.
He referred to transaction records admitted as Exhibit 33(6), confirming cash inflows on 10 and 11 March 2022, but clarified discrepancies in the names attached to the deposits.
“My lord, I need to explain that the names indicated in the cash deposits—Abdullahi Jamilu, Jamil Abdullahi, and Jamilu Abdullahi—were used as narration. However, I was not the one who made the cash deposits at the Lokoja branch,” he said.
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The witness identified Mr Adaudu as the depositor in transactions dated 8 and 11 October 2021, insisting that all his dealings were directly with him.
“Abba Adaudu, my lord. In all these transactions, I dealt with Abba Adaudu,” he noted.
He added that upon receiving the funds, he converted the naira sums into dollars and handed them over to Mr Adaudu.
“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over to Abba Adaudu,” he stated.
More transactions
Mr Abdullahi told the court that his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, received N100 million and N400 million on 15 and 17 December 2021, respectively, from Keyless Nature Limited, which he said belonged to Mr Adaudu.
“The transfers were for dollar purchase. Upon receipt, we agreed on the rate, I converted the funds and handed the dollars over to Abba Adaudu,” he said.
He further testified that on 18 February 2022, he received N600 million in six tranches into the account of Ejadams Essence Limited, also linked to Mr Adaudu, for the same purpose.
He added that N325 million was received on 21 February 2022 via RTGS.
According to him, the physical handover of the dollars took place either at his office or Mr Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Abuja.
“What I can recall is that he always comes to my office to pick up the dollars, my lord,” he said.
Objection
Proceedings were briefly stalled after defence lawyer Joseph Daudu, also a SAN, objected to the line of questioning, arguing that the prosecution was attempting to contradict its own witness without declaring him hostile.
“If the witness wants to contradict himself, he should be declared a the hostile witness,” Mr Daudu stated.
Mr Pinheiro, however, disagreed, maintaining that the witness had remained consistent.
“The witness was very unequivocal and unambiguous… His statement reflects his recollection of transactions that occurred about five years ago,” he said.
After hearing both sides, Mr Nwite adjourned the case until 24 April for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.
Background
The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Bello on 19 counts of alleged money laundering involving N80.2 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the funds were diverted from Kogi State Government accounts and those of local governments while Mr Bello was in office between 2016 and 2024. He has denied the charges.
READ ALSO: N33.2bn Fraud Trial: Another EFCC witness insists Dasuki’s co-defendant wrote statement without coercion
At the previous hearing, the 11th prosecution witness, James Bem Igbakymeh, a lawyer, testified that a property in Wuse II, Abuja, was sold for N650 million to a buyer identified as Shehu Bello.
“He inquired about my office and came to meet me to negotiate the purchase of the property,” Mr Igbakymeh stressed.
He stated that the payment was made in instalments into three accounts — SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited in Polaris Bank, and another SFC Foods Limited account in Heritage Bank.
When shown the Deed of Assignment admitted as Exhibit 45, the witness identified the assignee as Ali Bello and clarified that he was not the same person as Shehu Bello.
“My lord, during the transaction, Shehu Bello came to my office with Ali Bello on two occasions,” he emphasised.
The prosecution contends that the funds used in the transactions are proceeds of unlawful activities, although witnesses so far have not directly linked Mr Bello to the payments in their testimonies.
The former governor is also facing related allegations involving an alleged diversion of N110 billion, part of which prosecutors say was used to acquire properties in Abuja and Dubai.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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