During the trial of Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, a BDC operator testified that $300,000 was funneled to pay for the ex-governor’s children’s school fees in a case involving N3 billion in alleged money laundering.
In the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, a key witness testified on the alleged misuse of over N3 billion in public funds. Jamilu Abdullahi, an Abuja-based Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, revealed during court proceedings on Thursday that he received $300,000 for the payment of school fees for the former governor’s children.
The case, which is being tried at the Federal High Court in Abuja, centers around money laundering charges involving Ali Bello and three other defendants — Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat. The prosecution has charged the four individuals with laundering money and misappropriating public funds.
Abdullahi, testifying before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, explained that he was contacted by Daudu, who introduced him to a business partner holding a black leather bag containing $300,000. The cash was meant to settle school fees at the American International School (AIS) for one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters, Naima Ohunene Bello.
In his detailed testimony, Abdullahi described how he transferred the sum in four installments of $75,000 each, and issued receipts for the payments. He further recounted that several other large sums were transferred to his accounts over time, allegedly at the request of the former governor.
The testimony also shed light on how Abdullahi received numerous payments from companies tied to the defendants. “On different occasions in December 2021, I received N100 million, N400 million, and other payments totaling N765 million from entities such as Keyless Nature and Remita International,” Abdullahi revealed. He emphasized that these transactions were all made in cash, raising suspicions of money laundering activities.
Despite the detailed financial breakdown, A.M Aliyu, counsel to Ali Bello, requested an adjournment to allow for further analysis of the evidence presented. The defense argued that the witness had provided a vast amount of financial data, which required careful examination. However, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, objected, stating that the trial had been delayed long enough, with Abdullahi already in the witness stand since February 2023.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until October 25, 2024, with further hearings scheduled for November 5 and 6, 2024.
This case represents a significant moment in the fight against corruption, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues its efforts to clamp down on public officeholders involved in financial misconduct. The prosecution aims to uncover the full scope of the alleged illicit activities, particularly how funds intended for public use were diverted for personal expenses, including the education of Yahaya Bello’s children abroad.
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