An official of the American International School, Abuja, testified in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid a total of $1,606,763.68 in tuition fees for his children, including an advance payment of $845,852 for future enrolments.
Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the school, provided this testimony while acting as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He confirmed that the payments covered the tuition fees for Bello’s children until their graduation.
Ojehomon stated that the total amount was paid in two parts, with one portion serving as an advance for future tuition fees.
Bello is currently facing an N80.2 billion fraud charge filed by the EFCC. The prosecution has presented financial records, including statements from the American International School, detailing the payments made on behalf of Bello’s children.
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During a previous hearing on January 29, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa Plc, testified under subpoena and presented documents showing transactions related to the school fees.
The EFCC had earlier claimed that just before leaving office, Bello paid $760,000 as an advance for his children’s school fees, which was refunded after an investigation.
On Thursday, Ojehomon testified that Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, played a role in facilitating the payment process. Ojehomon explained, “Mr. Ali Bello contacted the American International School, Abuja, on Friday, August 13, requesting to pay the Bello children’s school fees until they graduate. The school management accepted his offer.”
Ojehomon also revealed that the payments covered four of Bello’s children, enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2, and that payments were also made for future children who were expected to start in August 2022, subject to space availability.
The breakdown of the payments, as detailed by Ojehomon, included $90,074 for Bello’s daughter in Grade 8, $87,470 for his daughter in Grade 6, $26,241 for his daughter in Grade 4, and $18,707 for his daughter in Grade 2.
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The witness also confirmed a contractual agreement between the school and Ali Bello, outlining the prepayment arrangement. EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), submitted the school’s admission and prepaid tuition fee documents as evidence.
Responding to inquiries about any funds being refunded to the EFCC, Ojehomon stated, “$760,910.84 was refunded,” and confirmed that the EFCC provided an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the refund.
Further testimony was provided by Williams, the second prosecution witness from UBA, who submitted additional financial documents, including statements from accounts linked to Bello’s administration. She testified that numerous withdrawals, often in N10 million tranches, were made from the Kogi State Government House account in favour of two individuals, Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O.
Williams confirmed that on December 12, 2018, ten transactions of N10 million each were processed in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu. However, under cross-examination, she acknowledged that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any of the transactions related to the Kogi Government House account. Defense counsel Daudu noted, “The name Yahaya Bello does not feature in exhibits P1 to P27,” to which Williams responded, “The name Bello did not appear anywhere.”
Williams also admitted that she was not the account officer in charge of the Kogi Government House account, and that the account was managed from Lokoja, Kogi State, rather than her branch in Area 3, Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, for the continuation of proceedings.
