Jamilu Abdullahi, an Abuja-based Bureau de Change operator and third prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, ( a nephew to Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello) provided a detailed account of the financial transactions between himself and the Kogi State government, under former governor Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
His testimony was presented before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja Maitama
Abdullahi revealed how the former governor repeatedly paid the school fees of his three daughters in U.S. dollars through him and his companies.
Ali Bello, the current Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, is Yahaya Bello’s nephew.
He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 18 counts of money laundering and misappropriation, amounting to over N3 billion.
The co-defendants in the case include Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat.
During his testimony, led by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abdullahi narrated an occasion when Daudu, the second defendant, delivered $300,000 in cash to him for Yahaya Bello’s daughters’ school fees.
He stated: “Abba Daudu called me to inform me about a transaction.
Though it was a weekend, I drove to the office and waited for them.
When they arrived, three individuals came; one remained in the car with the driver while two others entered my office.
A friend of Daudu, holding a black leather bag containing $300,000, was introduced as Daudu’s business partner.
After greeting, he placed the $300,000 on my desk. Due to a power outage, I couldn’t count the money at the time and secured it in my office safe.
After verifying the amount later, I calculated the service charges and informed Daudu.”
Abdullahi further testified that he transferred the $300,000 in four payments of $75,000 each, sending receipts to Daudu for confirmation.
He identified the recipient of the payment as Naima Ohunene Bello, one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters.
The witness also mentioned a separate payment made by Aleshua Solutions Services for Naima Ohunene Bello’s school fees, amounting to $42,170, dated January 24, 2022.
Another payment of $78,160 for Yahaya Bello’s daughter, Fatima Oziohu Bello, was also made through Aleshua Solutions Services.
Additionally, he confirmed a transaction of $44,675 on behalf of Naima Bello after bank charges deducted $25 from the original amount of $44,700.
The school that received these payments was the American International School (AIS).
Abdullahi also testified about transactions between Daudu’s company, Keyless Nature Limited, and his own company, Kunfayakun, which included a series of deposits totaling hundreds of millions of naira in December 2021 and early 2022.
He recalled receiving N100 million on December 15, 2021, and another N400 million two days later.
Further payments of N100 million each were received on December 21, 22, and 23, 2021, with an additional N35 million on December 23. He also acknowledged payments from Remita International totaling N73 million on December 12 and 17, 2021.
When cross-examined, Abdullahi’s defense counsel A.M. Aliyu requested an adjournment to thoroughly review the vast amount of financial evidence, to which Nurain Jimoh, counsel for the second, third, and fourth defendants, agreed.
However, the prosecution objected, arguing that Abdullahi had been on the witness stand since February 2023.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case to October 25, 2024, and November 5 and 6, 2024, for further trial.
Abdullahi also testified on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, identifying a payment of $11,000 by Whales Oil and Gas to AIS, which was made under Daudu’s direction.
Several other payments to AIS, including sums of $7,653, $19,296, and $7,725 for Bello Nana Fatima, and $6,611.29, $21,470, and $21,492 for Zahra Bello, were also highlighted during his testimony.
The witness further disclosed significant cash deposits made to his E-Traders International Limited and Kunfayakun accounts, as well as his personal account, by Daudu.
These deposits included N10 million on July 27, 2021, and N100 million on August 19 and 25, 2021. Additional inflows of N63 million and N50 million were recorded on August 30 and 31, 2021, respectively, with further payments continuing into September, October, and November 2021.
Abdullahi concluded his testimony by stating that the inflow of funds continued in 2022, with several high-value deposits in January, February, March, and April.
These transactions ranged from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of naira, as deposited into his various accounts.
Culled from: www.efcc.gov.ng.
