How I Converted N1.4bn to Dollars for Yahaya Bello’s Children’s School Fees — Witness Tells Court

How I Converted N1.4bn to Dollars for Yahaya Bello’s Children’s School Fees — Witness Tells Court

A bureau de change (BDC) operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told an Abuja High Court that he converted about N1.4 billion into dollars to facilitate the payment of school fees for the children of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness in Bello’s ongoing N110.4 billion fraud trial, gave the testimony on Thursday, explaining that he received the funds from Abba Adaudu, an associate of the former governor, between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, for foreign exchange transactions.

“My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgements. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” the witness told the court.

He said the transactions were carried out to pay the school fees of Bello’s children at the American International School of Abuja (AISA).

“I carried out the transactions upon the receipt of the school fees from Abba Adaudu to effect transfers to AISA on behalf of the names and the account details for the school, provided for the transfers, and it was concluded successfully to AISA’s account,” Abdullahi said.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust. The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that the defendants were involved in the diversion of N110.4 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government during Bello’s tenure as governor between January 2016 and January 2024.

How the transactions were conducted

Abdullahi told the court that his colleagues engaged him to facilitate the school-fee payments because he did not have sufficient funds in his offshore account.

He identified Forza Oil and Gas, Whales Oil and Gas, and Alesua Solutions Services as companies used by his colleagues in connection with the transactions.

The witness also confirmed receiving funds through accounts associated with E-Traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun and De-Remita International Limited for foreign exchange transactions.

He identified a transfer dated January 18, 2022, from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, insisting that the payment was for foreign exchange transactions rather than a gift.

Abdullahi further identified telex documents showing transfers to AISA and said he forwarded copies of the documents to Adaudu.

In March, Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor at AISA, testified that Bello’s children—Zahra Fatima, Na’ima, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello—were enrolled at the school.

Okehone tendered telex copies of payments from TD Bank in the United States for prepaid school fees.

He also told the court that Ali Bello, the former governor’s nephew and chief of staff to the incumbent Kogi State governor, signed an agreement providing for the payment of the children’s school fees until graduation.

According to the witness, the agreement also covered future students, including Zayyan Ali Bello.

Witness denies direct dealings with Bello

During cross-examination by Abdullahi Yahaya, counsel to the former governor, Abdullahi said he had no direct financial dealings with Bello or the other defendants.

He also denied personally making three cash deposits of N9 million, N8 million and N8 million recorded in his name at a bank branch in Lokoja, Kogi State.

“In fact, I have never been to that branch in my life, but my name has been used as a beneficiary as any other person’s name can be used as the receiver, and it was a dollar transaction for Abba Adaudu,” he said.

The witness added that he could not recall whether E-Traders was licensed to conduct foreign exchange transactions.

He also said he could not remember the exact foreign currency equivalent of the funds he handed to Adaudu because of the numerous transactions involved.

“I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” Abdullahi told the court.

The EFCC alleges that part of the funds purportedly diverted from the Kogi State Government was used to acquire properties in high-end areas of Abuja and pay the school fees of Bello’s children.

The court adjourned the trial until October 27.