Alleged ₦110.4bn Fraud: Witness Says ₦1.425bn Forex Transactions Funded Yahaya Bello’s Children’s School Fees
Alleged ₦110.4bn Fraud: Witness Says ₦1.425bn Forex Transactions Funded Yahaya Bello’s Children’s School Fees
A Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that he facilitated foreign exchange transactions worth ₦1.425 billion for Abba Adaudu over approximately two months, with part of his testimony relating to school fee payments for children of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Abdullahi, who testified as Prosecution Witness 19 (PW19), gave the evidence during Bello’s ongoing trial before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The witness said the foreign exchange transactions were conducted on Adaudu’s behalf and that he delivered the converted currencies to him. He also testified that accounts associated with several companies were used to make payments to the American International School Abuja (AISA) for school fees, based on payment instructions and account details provided by Adaudu.
Abdullahi identified Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as names familiar to him in connection with the school fee transactions. He said he transferred the funds to the school’s account and forwarded receipts to Adaudu as evidence of payment.
The testimony forms part of the prosecution’s case against Bello and two co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who are facing 16 counts bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
The witness also told the court that he had no direct dealings with the defendants. When asked about the total amount he handed to Adaudu, he said he could not recall the exact sum because the transactions were numerous.
The case was adjourned until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The allegations remain before the court. The testimony concerning the transactions does not, by itself, establish that Bello personally conducted them or prove that the funds were proceeds of crime. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
