American School: Yahaya Bello Paid $845,852 for Future Enrollment of Young Children
An official from the American International School, Abuja, has testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid a total of $1,606,763.68 in tuition fees for his children. This included an advance payment of $845,852 for his younger children’s future enrollment.
Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the school, revealed this information while testifying as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He confirmed that Bello’s payments covered his children’s tuition until graduation.
The EFCC has filed an N80.2 billion fraud charge against Bello. Financial records presented during the trial included school payment statements showing that the fees were paid in two tranches, with one part serving as a prepayment for future tuition.
At a previous hearing, Williams Abimbola, a UBA compliance officer, provided documents showing related financial transactions. The EFCC had alleged that, before leaving office, Bello paid $760,000 in advance for his children’s school fees, an amount that was later refunded following an investigation.
During Thursday’s hearing, Ojehomon disclosed that Ali Bello, the former governor’s brother, facilitated the payments. He testified that on August 13, 2021, Ali Bello contacted the school, requesting to prepay the tuition until the children completed their education.
The witness further detailed the payments:
$90,074 for a child in Grade 8
$87,470 for a child in Grade 6
$26,241 for a child in Grade 4
$18,707 for a child in Grade 2
Additionally, a contractual agreement was signed between the school and Ali Bello for the prepayment arrangement.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), submitted the school’s admission and tuition fee records as exhibits. Ojehomon confirmed that the school refunded $760,910.84 to an EFCC-designated account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Another prosecution witness, Williams from UBA, presented further financial documents. She revealed that multiple withdrawals, often in N10 million tranches, were made through cheques from the Kogi State Government House account. These transactions were mainly directed to Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O.
On December 12, 2018, ten transactions of N10 million each were reportedly processed in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu. Key signatories on the Kogi Government House account included Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalam Hudu (Accountant).
However, under cross-examination, the defense noted that Bello’s name did not appear in any of the financial records related to the transactions. Williams admitted that she was not the account officer in charge of the Kogi Government House account, which was managed from Lokoja, Kogi State.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to Friday, March 6, for continuation of the trial.
