BDC Operator Speaks, Reveals How He Exchanged Naira to Dollar for Yahaya Bello

Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and the third prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, affirmed before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja that funds were brought to him by agents of Kogi State Government for the payment of school fees of the daughters of former governor, Yahaya Bello.

In a cross-examination by Ali Bello’s counsel, A.M. Aliyu SAN, Abdullahi affirmed that a dollar equivalent in cash was exchanged for each tranche. “I made it clear that it was cash that was brought to my office for payment of the school fees,” he said.

An effort by the defence to evaluate a WhatsApp conversation between the witness and the second defendant,  Abba Adaudu as evidence, was objected to by prosecution counsel Abbas Mohammed, who argued that the copy of the WhatsApp conversation was unknown to the court. Consequently, the defence requested an adjournment to enable it to furnish the prosecution with the WhatsApp chat.

Justice Egwuatu granted the request and adjourned the matter till November 6, 2024 for continuation of trial.

Ali Bello, cousin to Yahaya Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Adaudu, Yakubu Adabenege and Iyada Sadat on 18-count charges of money laundering and misappropriation to the tune of over N3 billion.