Jamilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator, testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19) in the ongoing fraud trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, revealing that transactions totaling ₦1.425 billion flowed through his accounts for foreign currency purchases between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022.
Appearing before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Abdullahi was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. The witness told the court that a man named Abba Adaudu instructed and funded all the foreign exchange transactions, with Abdullahi personally delivering the converted US dollars to Adaudu on each occasion.
Cash Lodgments and Transfers Linked to Adaudu
While the court examined Exhibit AR, which covered transactions from July 2021 to April 2022, the witness confirmed several ₦10 million cash lodgments made through the Lokoja branch of a bank. "My lord, I confirm the cash lodgments of Ten, Ten million Naira by Abba Adaudu from the Lokoja branch. My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn't for gift but for a forex transaction," he said.
For cash deposits of ₦9 million, ₦8 million, and ₦8 million recorded in his name at the Lokoja branch on February 22, 2022, Abdullahi denied making them himself. "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 told the court.
He gave the same account for lodgments recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022. On how different names appeared in transaction records, he said: "My lord, I get to know the cash was paid on Abba Adaudu's behalf because whenever he makes a lodgment of cash in my account, the indicating narration is Abba Adaudu or Jamilu Abdullahi or any other name of their choice."
Large Transfers Through Company Accounts
Regarding his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, Abdullahi confirmed a ₦100 million credit from Keyless Nature Limited via FCMB, Zone 4, in 2021, which he attributed to Adaudu. He also confirmed a separate ₦400 million transfer linked to Keyless Nature Limited, as well as multiple ₦100 million transfers totalling ₦600 million from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. He told the court that Ejadams Essence Limited belonged to Adaudu.
"My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu," he said.
Abdullahi delivered the dollars either at his own office or at Adaudu's office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
EFCC Charges Against Bello
Yahaya Bello faces charges of alleged money laundering totalling ₦110.4 billion brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The testimony from the bureau de change operator provides detailed evidence of the alleged financial transactions linked to the former governor.
The trial continues at the FCT High Court in Abuja, with the prosecution presenting its case through witnesses and documentary evidence.
