A bureau de change (BDC) operator on Thursday defined his roles in the funds of the dollar-denominated school fees of the youngsters of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Jamilu Abdullahi, who testified earlier than the FCT High Court in Abuja in Mr Bello’s corruption trial, mentioned he acquired about N1.4 billion inside two months from Abba Adaudu, an affiliate of the previous governor, to purchase international exhange.
Mr Abdullahi, offered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because the nineteenth prosecution witness, mentioned he acquired cash by means of his accounts from Mr Adaudu between 15 December 2021 and 21 February 2022, throughout Mr Bello’s time in workplace, to buy US {dollars}.
“My lord, I confirm I received the cash lodgments. It wasn’t for gift but for a forex transaction,” he mentioned.
He additional mentioned he used the proceeds of the {dollars} bought with the funds he acquired from Mr Adaudu to make funds for Mr Bello’s youngsters on the elite 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,” the witness mentioned.
The EFCC suspects that the quantity is a component of N110.4 billion that Mr Bello, alongside his co-defendants – Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – allegedly diverted from Kogi State’s coffers whereas he served as governor between January 2016 an January 2024.
The trio are going through 16 counts of felony breach of belief involving N110.4 billion allegedly diverted from the Kogi State treasury.
EFCC alleged that half of the funds was used to purchase properties in intellectual areas of Abuja.
The anti-graft company additionally accused Mr Bello, who’s vying for the Kogi Central Senatorial District seat in the 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, of utilizing half of the diverted funds to make upfront funds of his youngsters’s school fees.
However, Mr Bello and his co-defendants, whom EFCC mentioned conspired with him to commit the crimes, have denied the allegations.
Details of transactions
In March, Nicholas Okehone, an inside auditor with AISA, confirmed that the previous governor’s youngsters enrolled in the school as Zahra Fatima, Na’ima, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello.
Mr Okehone confirmed the upfront payment of their school fees till commencement with telex copies of funds from TD Bank in the US.
Mr Okehone mentioned Ali Bello, a nephew of Mr Bello and chief of workers to the incumbent Kogi State governor, signed the settlement for pay as you go school fees till commencement “for the family of Bello and for “Future students to be enrolled: Zayyan Ali Bello.”
He additional gave particulars of the US dollar-denominated funds for the youngsters by Forza Oil and Gas and Whales Oil and Gas and Forza Oil and Gas and Aleshua Solutions.
Mr Abdullahi, who started testifying in June earlier than the court docket went on trip, admitted realizing Forza Oil and Gas Limited, Whales Oil and Gas and Alesua Solutions Services.
On Thursday, he mentioned they have been firms his colleagues used to pay school fees for the Bello youngsters.
Asked by EFCC’s prosecution lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to verify if the previous governor’s youngsters have been Fatima, Zahra, Naima and Zayyan, the witness mentioned, “The names sound familiar and were used for payment of school fees to AISA.”
He famous that his colleagues paid the school fees by means of him as a result of he didn’t have cash in his offshore account.
Mr Abdullahi additionally recognized the telexes in court docket, explaining that he despatched them to Mr Adaudu.
Funds for foreign exchange transactions
He additionally confirmed receiving funds from Mr Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions by means of his firms’ accounts. the businesses are E-traders International Limited, Kun-Faya-Kun, De-Remita International Limited.
Similarly, he mentioned Mr Adaudu deposited money into his accounts from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital metropolis, utilizing the title, Jamilu Abdullahi.
The witness, who already appeared in a sister trial on the Federal High Court the place Mr Bello can be going through associated N80.2 billion cash laundering expenses, suggested that Mr Adaudu as a detailed affiliate of the previous governor.
In his Thursday’s testimony, he recognized a switch dated 18 January 2022 from Keyless Limited, which he mentioned belonged to Mr Adaudu.
He maintained that the transaction was not a present however was equally meant for international trade.
On money lodgments dated 22 February 2022, comprising N9 million, N8 million and one other N8 million, which have been recorded in his title by means of the Lokoja department, Mr Abdullahi denied personally making the deposits.
“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 mentioned.
During cross-examination by Mr Bello’s lawyer Abdullahi Yahaya, a SAN, the witness mentioned he didn’t transact “directly” with Mr Bello and his co-defendants.
He additionally mentioned their names didn’t seem in connection to any money lodgements into his accounts.
When requested if his firm E-traders is licensed for foreign currency trading, the witness mentioned he couldn’t recall.
Asked to inform the court docket the equal of the foreign currency he gave to Mr Adaudu, the witness mentioned he couldn’t bear in mind the precise sum as a result of the transactions have been quite a few.
He, nonetheless, added, “I gave Abba Adaudu the cash and I have evidence.”
Thereafter, the trial choose, Maryann Anenih, adjourned the case till 27 October.
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