The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday at the Federal High Court, with a prosecution witness narrating how large cash deposits were converted into United States dollars and handed over to an associate of the former governor.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering case.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, the witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and Prosecution Witness 12, said multiple cash lodgments were made into the account of E-Traders International Limited by one Abba Adaudu.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, Abdullahi confirmed that the deposits occurred on several dates, including March 10 and 11, 2022.
He, however, clarified discrepancies in the depositor names reflected in the transaction records.
“The names indicated in the deposits were used as narration. I was not the one who made the cash deposits at the Lokoja branch,” he told the court.
The witness identified Adaudu as the individual responsible for deposits made on October 8 and 11, 2021, maintaining that all transactions were conducted directly with him.
Abdullahi further testified that upon receiving the funds, he converted the naira sums into dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.
“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over,” he said.
Referring to transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, his company, the witness said he received ₦100 million and ₦400 million on December 15 and 17, 2021, respectively, from Keyless Nature Limited, which he claimed belonged to Adaudu.
According to him, the funds were meant for dollar purchases, and the agreed sums were converted and delivered accordingly.
He also told the court that on February 18, 2022, he received ₦600 million in six tranches into the account of Ejadams Essence Limited, allegedly linked to Adaudu, as well as ₦325 million on February 21, 2022, via RTGS for the same purpose.
The witness added that the dollar handovers typically took place either at his office or at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Abuja.
Proceedings were briefly interrupted 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 remained consistent, attributing any perceived discrepancies to the challenge of recalling transactions that occurred several years ago.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to April 24, 2026, for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.
By Adewale Adewale
