A Bureau De Change operator Baffale Yakubu has revealed to the court how his signature was forged on the accounts opening package of Genting International Ltd, the company used in operating the financial fraud which led to the arrest of over 700 personnel in Oyin Jolayemi Street, the high brow of Victoria Island Lagos in December,2024.
Led in evidence by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Bilikisu Buhari, Baffale told the justice Rahman Oshodipthat he meet the first defendant, Friday Audu, and the second defendant, Genting International Limited, through his Chinese friend sometime in June, 2024.
“I met Friday Audu through a Chinese friend called Kenny, sometime around June 2024, my Chinese friend called me that he want to get a lottery licence in Nigeria and because he is not in the country, he wants me to be the director”.
“He told me he has a name of company he want to register with CAC but he will send to one of his Oga in Abuja to check if CAC will approved it, he called me after days that it has been approved”.
When asked who is the Oga, he said ” his friend said he has Oga in Abuja, Mr Friday Audu, that can help him do the CAC, and the lottery, he said there are requirements am to send, my signature, office address, international passport, email and telephone number, and I sent him my information “.
He narrated further that, “after some time, he asked me to get another name, as second director, I then called my brother Nasir Mohamed Bararu and he sent me his NIN, ID card, then he wrote his name on paper and signed and send to me but his address is same as mine because we stay in the same place”.
“I forwarded same to Kenny, after sometime, around July 2024, we meet with Mr Friday Audu physically, Kenny introduced me to Friday as his Oga”.
“they asked additional information as my name, BVN, NIN, my email, my account and because they want to get Scuml certificate from EFCC”.
“Mr Friday now told me I am not capable of being a director of the lottery licence because of the nature of my business which is bureau de change, I cannot continue to be director, of the lottery license”.
“I asked them to remove me and my brother as directors of Genting International company, it is around July 2024”.
“Around December, 2024, Mr Friday Audu called me that EFCC were called him about Genting, and said if they asked about the account, I should tell them that I opened an account for the company but am not the signatory”.
“EFCC invited me to their office ans asked me so many questions, I told the I did not open any account with the bank, they showed me another documents, company resolutions assigning Mr Friday Audu as a signatory to the account”.
“on my next appointment with EFCC, they brought another documents out that me and my brother are owners of Genting and I said no, I have never seen these documents before except in EFCC office”.
Under cross-examination by his counsel, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Baffale admitted he proved his signature for the purpose of registering Genting International Company.
He also, claimed he never signed any of the bank documents and he was not even around when those signatures were imputed.
He said further that he did not even aware that he was appointed as a secretary and he provided all his details to them around June 2024.
When he was asked whereabout Mr Kenny, he said he was in the prison because he being prosecuted for some Offences and he was aware of it.
After hearing from the witness, Justice
Oshodi adjourned the case until September 28, 29, and October 2, 2025
for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, Justice Oshodi had earlier granted bail to Friday Audu, who is standing trial alongside a company, Genting International Ltd, on allegations bordering on forgery.
The defendants were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on an amended eight-count charge dated May 17, 2025.
In a ruling delivered today, Justice Oshodi admitted the defendant to bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Justice Oshodi also ordered the EFCC to inform the immigration office of the withholding of the defendant’s international passports pending the determination of the case.
[6:37 pm, 03/06/2025] graceonradio@gmail.com: Acknowledged
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