An Abuja-based Bureau de Change operator Jamilu Abdullahi has opened up on his financial transactions between him and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello’s administration in connection with the school fees of Bello’s children and how he repeatedly paid
Penpushing reports that Abdullahi who is the third prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello who is the nephew of the former governor, made the revelation while testifying during the trial on 18 counts of money laundering and misappropriation to the tune of over N3 billion, alongside Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat.
The witness in the suit initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how the former governor repeatedly paid school fees of his three daughters in dollars through him and his companies.
Penpushing further reports that the witness led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo disclosed that on one of the occasions, Daudu, the second defendant brought $300,000 in cash to him for the payment of Yahaya Bello’s daughters’ school fees
‘Abba Daudu called me to say that they have a transaction though it was on the weekend, but I drove down to the office and waited for them to come. Upon their arrival, three of them came. One of them stayed in the car with the driver, two of them walked to my office and a friend of Abba Daudu was holding black leather bag containing $300,000’, he said.
“Upon entering, he greeted, and Abba Daudu introduced him as his friend and business partner, saying he has a transaction. He dropped $300,000 in cash. I wanted to count the dollars before they left, but I could not be due to the power outage’, he told the court.
‘I told him I cannot use my hands and needed to confirm that it was $300,000, so I locked the dollars in my office safe and two of them left. Then, Abba Daudu’s friend said when I confirmed the sum, details will be forwarded to me for payment’, the witness added.
‘However, the sum of $300,000 attracts some service charges which he said I should calculate and let Abba Daudu know. After I completed the transfer, I forwarded four receipts indicating $75,000 four times to Abba Daudu, and he confirmed to me that the payment was confirmed successfully,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that when Abdullahi was asked by the prosecution counsel if he knew anything regarding the transactions on Exhibit D, Pages 50, 52 and 53, he confirmed stressing that he paid the school fees four times
“Yes, I know the transactions of $75,000, paid to the school four times, totalling the sum of $300,000, as forwarded by Abba Daudu and further confirmed that the fees was paid for one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters. And the name of the recipient is Naima Ohunene Bello,” he said.
Penpushing reports that the witness in same vein explained that another payment of the fees, was done by a company, Aleshua Solutions Services, which, affirmed payment of the sum of $42,170 for Naima Ohunene Bello.
The Bureau de Change operator confirmed that it was paid on behalf of the student Naima Ohunene Bello for school fees based on the instruction and as forwarded by Abba Daudu, and the date was January 24, 2022.
Penpushing further reports that the prosecution witness on page 7 of the Exhibit D, identified $78,160 as payment for school fees through Aleshua Solutions Services in respect of another of Bello’s daughter, Fatima Oziohu Bello.
The witness emphasized that this was based on the receipt before him, and establishing the acknowledgement of $78,135 being paid for Fatima Bello and on the Aleshua Solutions Services, just as he identified a transaction of $44,675 also for Naima Bello on page one of exhibit D.
“I have seen it on the receipt of the payment. Forty-four thousand, seven hundred dollars, ($44,700) was paid to the school, but due to internal charges from the bank, $25 dollars was deducted, making the total balance of $44,675.00,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that he told the court that the beneficiary school was American International School (AIS), and in regards transactions from Daudu’s company, Keyless Nature Limited, to his own Kunfayakun company’s account on December 15 and 17, 2021, he said he received the sum of N100 million
‘I received the sum of N100 million on the 15 December 2021 from Keyless Nature. On the 17 December 2021, I received N400 million. Meanwhile on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd, December 2021, I received N100 million. On the 22nd December 2021, I received the sum of N100 million only. On the 23rd December 2021, I received N35 million’, he stated.
“I also received payment from Remita International in the sum of N40 million on 12th December 2021, and there was an entry of N33 million on the 17th of December 2021. On the 7th February 2022, I confirmed the receipt of N90 million from Keyless Nature,” he said.
Penpushing reports that counsel to Ali Bello, who is the current Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo and first defendant A.M Aliyu, however, prayed the court for adjournment to enable him study and have a full grasp of the massive facts and figures involved.
The counsel for the second, third and fourth defendants, Nurain Jimoh, agreed with him, while the prosecution counsel objected to the adjournment on the account that the witness has been in the dock since 6 February 2023.
Penpushing further reports that Jimoh said he believe the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness (PW) 3 should begin, if there are other grounds, stressing that the application can be sustained and if not urged the court to turn it down.
Meanwhile, Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter till October 25, 2024 and 5 and 6 November 2024 for continuation of trial.
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