I converted N1.4bn to dollars for 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 carried out 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 were part of the N110.4 billion diverted from Kogi State funds during Bello’s tenure as governor, from January 2016 to January 2024.

Abdullahi said his colleagues relied on 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 transfer dated January 18, 2022, 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 State, 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. He added 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.