On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and the third witness for the prosecution in Ali Bello’s trial, testified before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. Abdullahi confirmed that funds were brought to him by agents representing the Kogi State Government to pay the school fees for the daughters of former governor Yahaya Bello.
During cross-examination by Ali Bello’s lawyer, A.M. Aliyu SAN, Abdullahi stated that he exchanged naira for dollar cash for each payment. “It was cash that was brought to my office specifically for the school fees,” he clarified.
The defense attempted to introduce a WhatsApp conversation between Abdullahi and the second defendant, Abba Adaudu, as evidence. However, prosecution counsel Abbas Mohammed objected, stating that the chat had not been previously submitted to the court. Consequently, the defense requested an adjournment to provide the prosecution with a copy of the WhatsApp messages.
Justice Egwuatu approved the adjournment, rescheduling the case for November 6, 2024, for further proceedings.
Ali Bello, a cousin of Yahaya Bello, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with Adaudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat, on an 18-count charge of money laundering and misappropriation involving over N3 billion.
