‘N110.4bn fraud’: I changed N1.4bn to dollars for Yahaya Bello’s children’s school fees, witness tells court A bureau de change (BDC) operator has told a high court in
Abuja that he converted about N1.4 billion received from Abba Adaudu, an
associate of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, into dollars to pay
the school fees of the ex-governor’s children.
Jamilu Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness in Bello’s
N110.4 billion fraud trial, told the court on Thursday that he received the
funds 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,” he said.
Abdullahi said the transactions were used 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,” he said.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and
Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts of criminal breach of trust. All three defendants
have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged
that the funds form part of N110.4 billion diverted from Kogi state funds
during Bello’s tenure as governor, from January 2016 to January 2024.
HOW PAYMENTS WERE MADE
Abdullahi said his colleagues used him to facilitate the
school-fee payments because he had no funds in his offshore account.
He identified Forza Oil and Gas, Whales Oil and Gas, and
Alesua Solutions Services as companies his colleagues used in connection with
the payments.
He also confirmed receiving funds through accounts belonging
to E-Traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun and De-Remita International
Limited for foreign exchange transactions.
Abdullahi identified a January 18, 2022, transfer from
Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, insisting that the payment
was for forex and not a gift.
He also identified telex documents showing transfers to the
school and said he sent copies 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.
He tendered telex copies of payments from TD Bank in the
United States for prepaid school fees.
Okehone said Ali Bello, the former governor’s nephew and
chief of staff to the incumbent governor of Kogi, signed an agreement for the
children’s fees to be paid until graduation.
The agreement also covered future students, including Zayyan
Ali Bello.
During cross-examination by Abdullahi Yahaya, counsel to
Bello, the witness said he had no direct transactions with the former governor
or his co-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.
Abdullahi said he could not recall whether E-Traders was
licensed for forex trading, adding that he could not remember the exact foreign
currency equivalent of the funds he gave Adaudu because the transactions were
numerous.
“I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence,” he said.
The EFCC alleged that part of the funds diverted from Kogi
state was used to acquire properties in highbrow areas of Abuja and pay the
school fees of Bello’s children.
The trial was adjourned until October 27.
Source:
‘N110.4bn fraud’: I changed N1.4bn to dollars for Yahaya Bello’s children’s school fees, witness tells court
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February 23, 2024, 01:06:03 am