Court Overrules Defence Objection in Bello’s ₦80.2bn Trial
Proceedings in the alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, resumed on Friday with the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing a defence objection and allowing the prosecution to continue presenting its case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Bello on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80,246,470,088.88.
At the sitting before Emeka Nwite, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, had challenged the prosecution’s line of questioning, arguing that it sought to contradict its own witness and urging the court to declare the witness hostile. Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the application, maintaining that the witness remained “very unequivocal and unambiguous” in his testimony.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite described the objection as “speculative and misconceived,” holding that the provisions of Section 239 of the Evidence Act applied. He subsequently overruled the objection and directed that the trial proceed.
The prosecution then continued with the examination of its twelfth witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator, who gave further details of foreign exchange transactions allegedly linked to the case.
Abdullahi told the court that his dealings were based on instructions from one Abba Adaudu, whom he identified as the individual directing multiple 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 also explained how school fees payments were processed through collaboration with other Bureau de Change operators, naming Alyeshua Services, Forza Oil and Gas, and Whales Oil and Gas Limited as companies operated by 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, adding that the instruction for the payments came from Adaudu.
According to the witness, “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.”
While reviewing documents earlier tendered by the prosecution, Abdullahi identified several as transaction records he facilitated, although he clarified that some were handled through associates.
Under cross-examination, the witness confirmed that he made only one 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 further clarified his role, stating, “Yes, I instructed the transactions, though I did not carry them out myself.”
On the source of funds used for the school fees payments, Abdullahi maintained that the $300,000 involved was received in cash from Adaudu and an associate, and did not originate from the accounts previously referenced in court.
He also outlined standard practices within the Bureau de Change market, noting that operators often collaborate to execute large transactions when individual liquidity is insufficient.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to May 6 and 7, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and further hearing.