Joseph Bakare
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 prosecution 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.
He further shed light on the various international techniques used in analysing the specimen signatures included in the forwarded documents as well as the disputed ones sent for comparison.
“Both disputed documents and specimens were analysed and further comparisons were carried out.
“The conclusion from the forensic analysis was that from pen movement and other techniques used, the author of the specimen signature did not sign the disputed documents,” he said.
He, thereafter, identified Exhibit P9, being the request sent to the Forensic Department and which was already before the court.
He further identified the report of the forensic analysis carried out, and which was sent in response to the request.
When the prosecution sought to tender the said report, there was no objection raised by the defence counsel, V. Amusan-Giwa.
The document was, thereafter, admitted in evidence as Exhibit P10.
Under cross-examination, the witness noted that there was no need to request further documents, adding that “the author of the specimen documents did not sign the disputed signatures and documents.”
Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter till December 5, 2024 “for continuation of trial and conclusion of the case of the prosecution.”