A Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Baffale Yakubu, on Tuesday told a Lagos High Court how his signature was allegedly forged to facilitate the opening of a bank account for Genting International Ltd—one of the companies implicated in a large-scale financial fraud that led to the arrest of over 700 persons on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, in December 2024.
Yakubu gave his testimony before Justice Rahman Oshodi during a continued hearing in the trial of Friday Audu and Genting International Ltd, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended eight-count charge bordering on forgery and fraud.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, Yakubu narrated how he was introduced to the first defendant, Friday Audu, through a Chinese associate named Kenny in June 2024.
“I met Friday Audu through a Chinese friend called Kenny, who told me he wanted to obtain a lottery licence in Nigeria. Because he was not in the country, he asked me to stand in as a director for the company,” Yakubu said.
He explained that Kenny handled the company’s registration process with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) through Mr. Audu, whom he referred to as “his Oga in Abuja.”
Yakubu said he submitted personal information—including his signature, office address, international passport, email, and phone number—to assist with the company registration.
He added that when asked to provide a second director, he invited his brother, Nasir Mohamed Bararu, who also submitted his identity documents and signature.
Yakubu claimed that by July 2024, he was informed by Audu that due to his BDC profession, he could no longer be a director in the lottery venture and was subsequently asked to withdraw himself and his brother from the company’s directorship.
However, according to Yakubu, events took a turn in December 2024.
“Mr. Friday Audu called me to say EFCC had contacted him about Genting. He instructed me that if questioned, I should claim I opened the bank account for the company but was not a signatory,” he testified.
Yakubu said upon EFCC’s invitation, he denied opening any corporate bank account and was surprised when presented with company resolutions allegedly appointing Audu as a signatory.
“In a subsequent meeting with EFCC, I was shown documents claiming that my brother and I were the owners of Genting International Ltd. I had never seen those documents before,” he said.
Under cross-examination by his counsel, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Yakubu admitted he provided his signature for the company’s registration but maintained he never signed any bank account opening forms.
He further stated that he was unaware he had been named as company secretary and confirmed he submitted all personal documents around June 2024.
When asked about the whereabouts of Kenny, Yakubu disclosed that the Chinese national was currently in prison, facing prosecution for unrelated offences.
Following Yakubu’s testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter until September 28, 29, and October 2, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Oshodi granted bail to the first defendant, Friday Audu, who is standing trial alongside Genting International Ltd. The bail was granted in the sum of an undisclosed amount with two sureties in like sum.
The judge directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and provide evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government for the past three years.
Additionally, the EFCC was ordered to notify the Nigeria Immigration Service to retain Audu’s international passport pending the conclusion of the case.
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