A Bureau De Change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that he purchased foreign currencies worth ₦1.425 billion on behalf of Abba Adaudu during transactions spanning December 2021 to February 2022.
Abdullahi, who testified as the 19th prosecution witness in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, said he delivered the foreign currencies purchased through the transactions to Adaudu.
The witness gave the testimony on Thursday before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
He explained that several cash lodgments and bank transfers into accounts associated with him and his company were meant for foreign exchange transactions arranged by Adaudu.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu in a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
During proceedings, Abdullahi identified transaction records contained in Exhibit AR, covering the period between July 2021 and April 2022.
He confirmed that Adaudu made several cash lodgments of ₦10 million each through the Lokoja branch, insisting that the deposits were payments for foreign exchange rather than gifts.
“My lord, I confirm the cash lodgments of 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.
The witness also identified a January 18, 2022, transfer from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, maintaining that the transaction was similarly connected to foreign exchange purchases.
However, when questioned about other cash lodgments of ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million recorded in his name on February 22, 2022, Abdullahi said he did not personally make the deposits.
He insisted that he had never visited the Lokoja branch, explaining that his name could appear as a beneficiary in transactions arranged by Adaudu.
He gave a similar explanation for other deposits recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022, saying the names used in transaction narrations depended on the instructions provided by Adaudu.
According to him, the funds were used to purchase dollars, which he subsequently delivered to Adaudu.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” he said.
Abdullahi also identified his personal account with Access Bank’s Aminu Kano branch in Abuja, confirming cash lodgments of ₦10 million each on December 29 and 30, 2021, and January 1 and 31, 2022.
He maintained that Adaudu made the deposits for foreign exchange transactions.
The witness further told the court that he sometimes delivered the purchased dollars at his office and, on other occasions, at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
In another aspect of his testimony, Abdullahi identified transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, which he described as his company.
He confirmed a ₦100 million credit from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, attributing the transfer to Adaudu.
He also identified a ₦400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited and three transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022.
According to the witness, Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Adaudu, who also arranged a further transfer of ₦325 million through the company on February 21, 2022.
Abdullahi maintained that the transactions were connected to foreign exchange purchases and that he delivered the currencies to Adaudu.
The witness also explained his involvement in payments made to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for school fees on behalf of children whose payment details were provided to him by Adaudu.
He identified the names Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as familiar names associated with the school fee transactions.
Abdullahi said he transferred the funds to the school’s account using the details supplied by Adaudu and subsequently sent receipts confirming the payments.
He identified Exhibits AX 10 (1–4), described as telexes, as evidence of the payments made to the school.
When asked whether Adaudu or the children had complained about the transactions, the witness said he had received no such complaints.
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 to state the total amount of money he gave Adaudu, he said he could not recall the exact figure because of the numerous transactions involved.
“I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” he told the court.
Following the testimony, Justice Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
