A bureau de change operator on Thursday told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how he allegedly converted ₦1.425 billion into foreign currencies within about two months and handed the money to an aide of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, gave the testimony before Justice Maryanne Anineh in the ongoing ₦110.4 billion money laundering trial involving Bello and two others.
Abdullahi, who testified as the EFCC’s 19th witness, said the transactions took place between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022.
He told the court that all the foreign currencies purchased were delivered to Abba Adaudu.
According to him, several cash deposits and bank transfers into his personal and company accounts were made for foreign exchange transactions.
He said deposits of ₦10 million each paid through the Lokoja branch were not gifts but payments for buying United States dollars.
“It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” the witness told the court.
Abdullahi also identified transfers of hundreds of millions of naira from companies he linked to Adaudu, saying they were all meant for forex purchases.
He told the court he never visited the Lokoja bank branch where some deposits were made, even though his name appeared in the transaction records.
The witness added that he sometimes delivered the dollars at his office and at other times at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
He also told the court that he paid school fees at the American International School, Abuja, for children whose payment details were given to him by Adaudu.
According to him, he later sent payment receipts to Adaudu as proof that the transactions had been completed.
During cross-examination, Abdullahi said he had no direct dealings with Yahaya Bello or the other defendants.
He, however, maintained, “I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence.”
Justice Maryanne Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for the continuation of the trial, as the EFCC continues to prosecute Bello and the other defendants over allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.