By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how large cash deposits were converted to dollars and handed over to an associate.
Bello, whose case dates back to April 2024, with full trial proceedings commencing after his arraignment in November 2024, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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 deposits were made into accounts linked to E-Traders International Limited.
According to evidence led by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Abdullahi told the court that the deposits were made on different dates by an individual identified as Abba Adaudu, with whom he said he conducted all transactions.
The witness explained that although his name appeared in some deposit narrations, he was not the individual who physically made the lodgments at the Lokoja branch.
He further disclosed that upon receiving the funds, he converted the naira amounts into United States dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.
Abdullahi also identified transactions involving his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited, stating that he received ₦100 million and ₦400 million in December 2021 from Keyless Nature Limited, allegedly linked to Adaudu, for dollar purchases.
According to him, additional funds, including ₦600 million received in tranches and ₦325 million transferred via RTGS in February 2022, were also converted and handed over in dollars.
He said the exchanges were carried out either at his office or at Adaudu’s office located in Area 8, Abuja.
However, proceedings were briefly interrupted when defence counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), objected to the line of questioning, arguing that the prosecution was attempting to contradict the witness without declaring him hostile.
The case is part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts targeting alleged financial crimes involving public funds.