Bureau De Change Operator Alleges Signature Forgery in Naira Fraud Case Involving 700 Arrests on Victoria Island

A Bureau De Change operator, Baffale Yakubu, has revealed to the court how his signature was forged on the account opening documents of Genting International Ltd—the company allegedly used to perpetrate a large-scale financial fraud that led to the arrest of over 700 personnel in Oyin Jolayemi Street, the upscale area of Victoria Island, Lagos, in December 2024.

Led in evidence by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Buhari, Yakubu testified before Justice Rahman Oshodi that he met the first defendant, Friday Audu, and the second defendant, Genting International Ltd, through his Chinese associate in June 2024.

“I met Friday Audu through a Chinese friend called Kenny, sometime around June 2024. My Chinese friend told me he wanted to obtain a lottery licence in Nigeria, and since he wasn’t in the country, he asked me to act as a director,” Yakubu said.

According to him, the Chinese associate proposed a company name to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and said he would confirm approval through a contact in Abuja—identified as Mr. Friday Audu.

Yakubu explained that he was asked to provide personal details including his signature, office address, international passport, email, and phone number. Later, he was instructed to find a second director, prompting him to involve his brother, Nasir Mohamed Bararu.

“I forwarded the details to Kenny. Around July 2024, we met Mr. Friday Audu in person. Kenny introduced him as his ‘Oga.’ They then requested more details—BVN, NIN, email, and bank account—allegedly to obtain a SCUML certificate from EFCC.”

However, Yakubu said Audu later informed him that his status as a Bureau De Change operator disqualified him from being a director in a lottery company. As a result, he and his brother asked to be removed as directors around July 2024.

Yakubu recounted that in December 2024, Friday Audu called to inform him that the EFCC had begun investigating Genting International Ltd, urging him to claim he opened a company account but was not a signatory.

“EFCC invited me and showed me company resolution documents appointing Mr. Friday Audu as the account signatory. Later, they presented other documents claiming that my brother and I were the owners of Genting. I told them I had never seen those documents before,” he said.

Under cross-examination by his counsel, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Yakubu admitted that he provided his signature for the purpose of registering Genting International Ltd but denied signing any bank-related documents. He insisted he was unaware of being appointed as secretary of the company and confirmed he gave his details to Kenny around June 2024.

When asked about the whereabouts of Kenny, Yakubu said the Chinese associate was in prison and was being prosecuted for other offences.

Following the witness testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned the trial to September 28, 29, and October 2, 2025, for continuation.

Meanwhile, the court had earlier granted bail to Friday Audu, who is facing trial alongside Genting International Ltd on an amended eight-count charge dated May 17, 2025, including allegations of forgery.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi admitted Audu to bail with two sureties in like sum, stating the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government. The EFCC was also directed to notify the Nigeria Immigration Service to withhold the defendant’s international passports pending the determination of the case.