Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Court Dismisses Defence Counsel’s Objection, Hears Further Testimony on Cash–Dollar Transactions

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Friday, April 24, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the court dismissing an objection by the defence counsel and allowing 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 on Friday, Justice Nwite gave a ruling on an objection raised by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, at the previous sitting. The judge held that the objection lacked merit.

Daudu had objected that the prosecution team was attempting to contradict its own witness and suggested that the witness should have been declared hostile. The argument was turned down by lead Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who pointed out that the witness “was very unequivocal and unambiguous.”

Ruling on Daudu’s objection, Justice Nwite stressed that “the objection is speculative and misconceived,” adding that the relevant provisions of Section 239 of the Evidence Act were applicable. He consequently overruled the objection and ordered the continuation of trial.

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

In his testimony, Abdullahi reiterated his dealings with Abba Adaudu, whom he described as the individual he transacted business with in respect of multiple foreign exchange conversions.

“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.

The witness also gave further insight into transactions relating to school fees payments, explaining that he relied on colleagues in the Bureau de Change market when he lacked sufficient dollar inflow to execute transfers.

“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 was given by Abba 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 shown documents earlier tendered by the prosecution, the witness identified several of them as records of transactions he facilitated, though he noted that a few were not directly handled by him.

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

“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, stating that although he did not personally execute all transfers, he instructed and facilitated them.

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

On the issue of the source of funds used for 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 was 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 thereafter adjourned the matter to May 6 and 7, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination of PW12 and further trial.