In a Federal High Court testimony in Maitama, Abuja, Jamilu Abdullahi, an Abuja-based Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, revealed details of financial transactions implicating the Kogi State government under former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Among the dubious payments were extravagant dollar-based school fees for his daughters, raising questions about the administration’s financial integrity.
Abdullahi, the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello and others, described how millions of dollars and naira were channeled through his accounts.
These transactions, he stated, were directly linked to the former governor’s personal and official finances, providing crucial insights into a potentially corrupt money trail.
Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s nephew and current Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, faces 18-count charges of money laundering and misappropriation, alongside co-accused Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges the laundering of more than N3 billion in funds, deepening the case’s magnitude.
During the hearing, Abdullahi detailed how Daudu, the second defendant, delivered $300,000 in cash to his office for the payment of school fees for Naima Ohunene Bello, Yahaya Bello’s daughter.
The funds were disbursed to the American International School (AIS) in four separate payments of $75,000 each, fueling suspicions of financial misconduct.
In addition to the AIS payments, Abdullahi uncovered further transactions by Aleshua Solutions Services, involving dollar payments for Naima and Fatima Bello.
These sums ranged from $42,170 to $78,160, raising further concerns about the financial dealings under Yahaya Bello’s administration.
Furthermore, he noted large naira deposits made by Daudu’s company, Keyless Nature Limited, with N400 million and N100 million deposited over several months.
The financial flow persisted into 2022, with Abdullahi testifying that more than 40 major transactions passed through his personal and business accounts.
These transactions ranged from N25 million to N200 million, significantly heightening the investigation’s focus on the former governor’s financial activities.
The defense requested more time to review the substantial evidence, prompting Justice Obiora Egwuatu to adjourn the case.
The trial will resume on October 25, 2024, as the court continues to scrutinize the financial conduct of Yahaya Bello’s regime, amid growing revelations of widespread corruption.
The EFCC’s ongoing investigation has unveiled the extensive movement of funds during Yahaya Bello’s time in office, exposing a complex web of financial mismanagement.
The findings have intensified public attention on the former governor’s administration, raising serious questions about its ethical and fiscal conduct.
