A bureau de change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that transactions totalling ₦1.425 billion were carried out for foreign exchange purchases, with the converted currencies delivered to Abba Adaudu.
Abdullahi, who testified as the 19th prosecution witness (PW19) in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, gave the testimony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness said the transactions involved cash lodgments and bank transfers into accounts associated with him and his company for the purchase of United States dollars on behalf of Adaudu.
While examining Exhibit AR, containing transactions between July 2021 and April 2022, Abdullahi confirmed cash lodgments of ₦10 million each made by Adaudu through a bank branch in Lokoja, Kogi State.
“My lord, I confirm the cash lodgments of 10, 10 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 told the court.
He also identified a transfer dated January 18, 2022, from Keyless Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu, describing the transaction as payment for foreign exchange.
On deposits recorded in his name through the Lokoja branch on February 22, 2022, Abdullahi denied personally making the lodgments, which comprised ₦9 million, ₦8 million and another ₦8 million.
“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.
He gave a similar account of multiple cash lodgments recorded against his name on March 10 and 11, 2022, explaining that the names appearing in transaction descriptions depended on the instructions provided by Adaudu.
“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,” the witness said.
Abdullahi maintained that he delivered the purchased foreign currencies to Adaudu.
“My lord, I always send the converted forex to Abba Adaudu. All the transactions at the Lokoja were from Abba Adaudu,” he added.
The witness also identified Exhibit AK as his personal account with Access Bank, Aminu Kano branch, Abuja. He confirmed cash lodgments of ₦10 million each on December 29 and 30, 2021, and January 1 and 31, 2022, but said the deposits were made by Adaudu for foreign exchange transactions.
He told the court that he sometimes delivered the purchased dollars to Adaudu at his own office and, on other occasions, at Adaudu’s office in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.
Testifying further on transactions involving Kunfayakun Global Limited, which he identified as his company, Abdullahi confirmed a credit entry of ₦100 million from Keyless Nature Limited through FCMB’s Zone 4 branch in 2021. He attributed the transfer to Adaudu.
He also identified a ₦400 million transfer through Keyless Nature Limited, which he said was made by Adaudu.
In addition, the witness confirmed multiple transfers of ₦100 million each, totalling ₦600 million, from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18, 2022. He told the court that the company belonged to Adaudu.
The testimony centred on bank transactions involving the witness’s personal and company accounts, the identities associated with the deposits and transfers, and his account of how the purchased foreign currencies were delivered to Adaudu.
The proceedings form part of the prosecution’s ongoing presentation of evidence in the trial of Bello.