A prosecution witness in the alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud trial involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has detailed how ₦1.425 billion was used for foreign exchange transactions linked to Abba Adaudu.
The witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator, told an Abuja High Court that he purchased United States dollars with the funds and delivered the currencies to Adaudu.
Abdullahi testified on Thursday as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19) before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama.
He was led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
According to the witness, the transactions took place between December 15 and February 21, 2022.
However, he denied personally making some cash deposits recorded in his name at a Lokoja bank branch.
“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 told the court.
Abdullahi said several cash lodgments of ₦10 million each were made by Adaudu through the Lokoja branch.
He maintained that the payments were not gifts but were intended for foreign exchange transactions.
The witness also denied personally depositing ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million recorded in his name on February 22, 2022.
He gave a similar explanation for transactions recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022.
According to him, the names appearing in the transaction narrations depended on Adaudu’s instructions.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” he said.
The witness also identified substantial transfers involving Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited.
He attributed a ₦100 million credit from Keyless Nature Limited in 2021 to Adaudu.
He also linked a ₦400 million transfer through the company to Adaudu.
Abdullahi further identified multiple transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022.
He told the court that the company belonged to Adaudu.
The witness identified Kunfayakun Global Limited as his own company during the examination of the transaction records.
He said he sometimes delivered the purchased dollars at his office and on other occasions at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
The testimony forms part of the prosecution’s evidence in the alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud case.
However, the evidence reported does not, by itself, establish that Bello personally authorised the transactions or that the funds were proceeds of crime.
The allegations against the former governor remain subject to proof in court.