lIsaac Samuel
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how large cash deposits were converted into dollars and handed to an associate.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N80,246,470,088.88 money laundering scheme.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness 12 (PW12), a Bureau de Change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, told the court that multiple cash deposits were made into the account of E-Traders International Limited by one Abba Adaudu on different dates.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, the witness confirmed that the transactions extended beyond earlier identified dates, noting that fresh cash inflows were recorded on March 10 and 11, 2022.
Abdullahi, however, clarified discrepancies in the names appearing on transaction records, explaining that variations such as Abdullahi Jamilu and Jamil Abdullahi were merely narrations and not indicative of the actual depositor..
“My lord, I was not the one who made the cash deposits at the Lokoja branch,” he said, identifying Adaudu as the person responsible for the lodgments, including transactions dated October 8 and 11, 2021.
He further told the court that upon receiving the cash, he converted the naira sums into United States dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.
“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over to Abba Adaudu,” he said.
The witness also identified transactions involving his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, stating that he received N100 million and N400 million on December 15 and 17, 2021, respectively, from Keyless Nature Limited, a firm he alleged belonged to Adaudu.
According to him, the funds were meant for dollar purchases, adding that the agreed amounts were converted and delivered in cash.
He further disclosed that on February 18, 2022, he received N600 million in six tranches into the account of Ejadams Essence Limited, also allegedly linked to Adaudu, as well as N325 million on February 21, 2022, via RTGS for similar transactions.
Abdullahi said the physical handover of the dollars took place either at his office or at 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 added.
Proceedings were briefly stalled following an objection by defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, who argued 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 hostile witness,” Daudu submitted.
In response, Pinheiro maintained that the witness had been consistent, arguing that minor variations in recollection of events that occurred several years ago did not amount to contradictions.
After hearing both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till April 24, 2026, for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.
