He has made an impact and everyone can see it. It would be there for many years to come. So, it’s good for everyone to learn,” Oyejola stated.
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Yahaya Bello: EFCC witness tenders massive dollar payments in money laundering trial
Yahaya Bello: EFCC witness tenders massive dollar payments in money laundering trial
Jamilu Abdullahi, an Abuja-based Bureau de Change (BDC) operator and third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, testified on Thursday, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, detailing financial transactions involving the Kogi State government under former governor Yahaya Bello.
Abdullahi recounted how former Governor Bello made multiple payments in dollars through his companies to cover the school fees of his three daughters.
Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, who currently serves as the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 18 charges related to money laundering and the misappropriation of over N3 billion.
He is on trial alongside Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Abdullahi revealed that on one occasion, Abba Daudu, the second defendant, brought $300,000 in cash for the payment of school fees for Yahaya Bello’s daughters.
“Abba Daudu called me about a transaction. Despite it being a weekend, I went to my office, and three individuals arrived. Two came inside while one stayed in the car. A friend of Daudu, carrying a black leather bag containing $300,000, introduced himself as a business partner and handed me the money,” Abdullahi testified.
He explained that he was unable to count the cash immediately due to a power outage, so he secured it in his office safe.
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According to Abdullahi, the sum was later confirmed, and four receipts, each for $75,000, were issued.
These payments covered Yahaya Bello’s daughter, Naima Ohunene Bello, for her school fees at the American International School (AIS).
Abdullahi also detailed other transactions, including a $42,170 payment made through Aleshua Solutions Services for Naima Ohunene Bello and a $78,160 payment for another daughter, Fatima Oziohu Bello.
Additionally, he identified a $44,675 payment for Naima Bello, noting that a $25 bank charge had been deducted from the total amount.
He further revealed that several large sums were transferred from Daudu’s company, Keyless Nature Limited, to his own company, Kunfayakun, and other accounts.
These transactions included multiple payments of N100 million, N400 million, N90 million, and other significant amounts between December 2021 and early 2022.
Abdullahi provided a detailed breakdown of the inflows into his accounts, including payments from Remita International and further large deposits from Keyless Nature Limited.
He also testified about additional transactions made through his companies, E-Traders International Limited and Kunfayakun, noting several cash deposits totaling hundreds of millions of naira over multiple months in 2021 and 2022.
The defense counsel, A.M. Aliyu, representing Ali Bello, requested an adjournment to allow more time to review the voluminous financial records and figures presented in the case.
Despite objections from the prosecution, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and adjourned the trial to October 25, 2024, and further hearings on November 5 and 6, 2024.
In earlier testimony on September 24, 2024, Abdullahi had identified payments of $11,000 made by Whales Oil and Gas to AIS for one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters, Zahra Bello.
He also testified about various other payments captured in the case’s exhibits, totaling significant amounts for school fees and other transactions related to the former governor’s family.
The trial continues as the court seeks to unravel the financial dealings connected to Yahaya Bello’s administration and the role of his associates in the alleged money laundering scheme.
Yahaya Bello: EFCC witness tenders massive dollar payments in money laundering trial
metro
St. Charles Old Boys holds commendation service for Lagbaja
St. Charles Old Boys holds commendation service for Lagbaja
St Charles Grammar School Osogbo Old Boys Association (SCOBA) on Friday held a Commendation Service for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The Commendation Service held at St Lawrence Catholic Church, Osogbo, Osun State, was attended by SCOBA members, students, and staff of St Charles Grammar School among other people in the state.
SCOBA Global General Secretary, Mr. Leye Odetoyinbo, one of the founding fathers of SCOBA, Professor Benjamin Babatunde, and the Principal of St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo who was Lagbaja’s schoolmate, Mr Ajayi Oluwatoyin and Rev. Fr. Femi Adetumji, a SCOBA member, described the death of the late Chief of Army Staff as a great loss.
They noted that Lagbaja lived an eventful life and would forever be remembered for what he contributed to the school and the nation.
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Earlier on Thursday, SCOBA organised a funeral procession from the School to St. Benedict Catholic Church, Popo area in Osogbo, in honour of Lagbaja, and students and staff of the school joined the procession.
Lagbaja attended St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, and contributed significantly to infrastructural development in the school as a member of the Old Boys Association.
The Catholic Bishop of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Oyejola said Lagbaja lived a life worthy of emulation. He prayed to God to grant him rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Oyejola said “I’m happy that he was able to do the things he did for the school. He made the school a beautiful place for others that would come to the school not just to learn in the classrooms but also to participate in sporting activities, acquire skills, and use that to serve the nation.”
“I charge everybody to emulate him. Don’t delay, please. Time waits for nobody. Thank God he did what he did. And it’s going to be there forever.
metro
Obasanjo, Shettima, Atiku, ex-govs storm Kano for Kwankwaso daughter’s wedding
Obasanjo, Shettima, Atiku, ex-govs storm Kano for Kwankwaso daughter’s wedding
Kano literally stood still on Saturday as eminent personalities across the country including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Kashim Shettima and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar breezed into the city to witness the wedding Fatiha of the daughter of former Governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The wedding fatiha took place at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, and conducted by the Chief Imam of the city central mosque, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, gave Kwankwaso’s daughter, Dr Aishatu Kwankwaso’s hand in marriage to Fahad, the son of Katsina-based business mogul, Dahiru Mangal.
The sum of N1 million was paid as dowry by the groom amid thunderous supplication to Allah(SWT).
The arrival of former President Obasanjo, wearing a red cap which is the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by Kwankwaso, took the attention of many, especially the Kwankwasiyya supporters.
Former Vice President Abubakar and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, also graced the occasion.
Other personalities that also graced the wedding are former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi; Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State; Senator Adamu Aliero, former Governor of Kebbi State; and Senator Abdul Ningi.
Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State, former Governor Mahamud Shinkafi of Zamfara State, former Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State, former Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom, and former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State were present.
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Dapo Abiodun ally Bidemi Rufai released from US prison
Dapo Abiodun ally Bidemi Rufai released from US prison
Abidemi Rufai, Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun’s associate, has been released from prison in the United States, Peoples Gazette has learnt.
Mr Rufai, 47, was released from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ custody in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 15, 2024, The Gazette understands via correctional documents. The convicted felon would now ready himself for deportation from the U.S. as stipulated in his guilty plea. His Nigerian passport was returned to him on October 21, 2024, after he filed a motion to reduce his sentencing.
When he pleaded guilty to allegations of tax fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2022, Mr Rufai waived his rights to challenge deportation after serving out his jail sentence.
He was sentenced to 60 months in prison on two counts of fraud in 2022 after prosecutors presented a strong case of multimillion-dollar fraud backed with 100,000 pages of evidence before a federal judge in Tacoma, Washington. The terms were scheduled to run concurrently.
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Mr Rufai, widely known as Elele Ruffy, was scheduled to be released on Valentine’s Day in 2025 but a judge approved his motion to be released earlier based on new sentencing guidelines, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons forwent the three months left of his sentence.
He was ordered to pay $607,000 in restitution to the U.S. government agencies across multiple states, and a Nigerian court ordered the seizure of his Lekki mansion in Lagos and bank accounts after the anti-graft office EFCC filed fraud charges against him.
Mr Rufai was widely known as a notorious Internet fraud ringleader in Lagos and Ogun for many years before he extended his fraudulent operations to the U.S., where he got nabbed.
He served in the same prison as infamous Internet fraudsters Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas and Jacob Olalekan Ponle, also known as Mr Woodberry, who are still serving long sentences in American jails.
It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr Rufai would return to his job as an aide to Mr Abiodun in Ogun. The governor was arrested for fraud in Florida over three decades ago, but his punishment was unclear.
Dapo Abiodun ally Bidemi Rufai released from US prison
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