The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday, April 23, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness giving fresh details on alleged large-scale cash transactions tied to the case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello over an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering charge.
A Bureau de Change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, who appeared as Prosecution Witness 12 (PW12), told the court that multiple cash deposits were made into accounts linked to E-Traders International Limited by an individual identified as Abba Adaudu.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness said the transactions occurred on different dates and involved substantial sums of money that were later converted into United States dollars.
“Yes, my lord, there are more cash deposit transactions on different days into E-Traders International Limited,” Abdullahi testified.
He also confirmed that deposits were recorded on March 10 and 11, 2022, while noting discrepancies in the names used in the transaction narration.
According to him, although different variations of his name appeared in the records, he was not the one who physically made the deposits at the Lokoja branch.
The witness further identified Abba Adaudu as the person behind several of the transactions, including deposits dated October 8 and 11, 2021.
“In all these transactions, I dealt with Abba Adaudu,” he told the court.
Abdullahi explained that upon receiving naira deposits, he converted them into dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.
“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over to Abba Adaudu,” he said.
He also testified that he received ₦100 million and ₦400 million in December 2021 from Keyless Nature Limited, allegedly linked to Adaudu, which were also converted into foreign currency.
Further transactions included ₦600 million received in February 2022 in multiple tranches into Ejadams Essence Limited and another ₦325 million via RTGS, all reportedly for dollar purchases.
The witness said the dollar exchanges were often completed either at his office or at Adaudu’s location in Area 8, Abuja, where physical handovers took place.
“He always comes to my office to pick up the dollars,” he added.
However, proceedings were briefly disrupted following an objection by defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, who argued that the prosecution was attempting to contradict the witness without formally declaring him hostile.
Responding, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro maintained that the witness remained consistent in his testimony, stressing that any inconsistencies were due to the passage of time and not deliberate contradiction.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to April 24, 2026, for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.
