Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Court Rejects Objection, Hears Dollar Testimony

The trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Friday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, as the court dismissed an objection by the defence counsel and allowed the prosecution to proceed with its case.

Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.

At the resumed hearing, trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, delivered a ruling on an objection earlier raised by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, describing it as lacking merit.

Daudu had argued that the prosecution was attempting to contradict its own witness and suggested that the witness should be declared hostile. However, lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the argument, maintaining that the witness “was very unequivocal and unambiguous.”

Ruling on the objection, Justice Nwite held that “the objection is speculative and misconceived,” adding that the provisions of Section 239 of the Evidence Act were applicable. He subsequently overruled the objection and directed that the trial continue.

Following the ruling, the prosecution proceeded with the examination of its twelfth witness (PW12), Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator.

In his testimony, Abdullahi reiterated his dealings with one Abba Adaudu, whom he identified as the person who gave him instructions for multiple foreign exchange transactions.

“I remember giving Ali, a police officer, a MOPOL, dollars at Fraser Suites on Abba Adaudu’s instruction. Whenever he was not available, he usually sent people to pick up his dollars,” the witness said.

He further explained how school fees payments were processed through collaboration with other Bureau de Change operators.

“Alyeshua Services, Forza Oil and Gas and Whales Oil and Gas Limited are companies belonging to my colleagues.

“When I didn’t have the required inflow to process school fees payments, I contacted them, agreed on rates and paid them to handle the transactions,” he said.

According to him, the instruction for the school fees payments came from Adaudu.

“He came with a friend on a Saturday with cash in dollars and asked me to transfer the money for the payment of school fees for Zahra and Fatima Bello. The transfers were successful,” he said.

While being shown documents earlier tendered by the prosecution, the witness identified several as records of transactions he facilitated, though he noted that some were not directly handled by him.

Under cross-examination, Abdullahi confirmed that he made a statement to the EFCC on May 10, 2022.

“My statement was taken on May 10, 2022, and it is the only statement I made to the EFCC on this matter,” he said.

He also clarified his role in the transactions, noting that although he did not personally execute all transfers, he facilitated them.

“Yes, I instructed the transactions, though I did not carry them out myself,” he said.

On the source of funds used for the school fees payments, the witness maintained that the money did not emanate from the accounts earlier referenced in court.

“The $300,000 used for the school fees was given to me in cash by Abba Adaudu and his associate. I did not use funds from those accounts for the payments,” he said.

Abdullahi further explained the operational structure of the Bureau de Change market, noting that collaboration among operators is common when handling large transactions.

“In the Bureau de Change market, when one cannot handle a transaction due to insufficient inflow, colleagues are engaged. I gave both cash dollars and naira transfers based on agreed rates to facilitate the payments,” he said.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to May 6 and 7, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination of the witness and further hearing.

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