A court witness revealed that $760,910 was paid in advance as school fees for Yahaya Bello's children at the American International School in Abuja. This testimony came during the ongoing trial of the former Kogi governor, who is facing allegations of a ₦110.4 billion fraud. The trial took a significant turn on Thursday when the witness disclosed this information about the substantial payment.
During his testimony at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, witness Nicholas Okehone stated that payments were made to cover school fees for several of Bello’s children enrolled at the institution. Okehone, an internal auditor at the school and Prosecution Witness 14, informed the court that a total of $760,910.84 was paid under an agreement that allowed the Bello family to pre-pay tuition fees until the students graduated.
The trial judge, Justice Maryanne Anineh, is overseeing the case in which Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. They face 16 counts of charges related to criminal breach of trust and money laundering. While being examined by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness confirmed that the former governor had four children enrolled at the school.
“Yes, I know him as a parent. He has children in my institution,” Okehone told the court.
He identified the children as Zahra Bello, Na’ima Bello, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello. He also mentioned Zayyan Ali Bello, a son of Ali Bello, a nephew of the former governor, as another beneficiary of the payments.
According to the witness, the school entered into an agreement titled "Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation" with the Bello family. He stated that this agreement was signed by Grace Hudge, the Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello, who represented the family.
Okehone also confirmed several documents that were presented in court, including admission letters, identification certificates, email correspondence with the school, bank payment records, and letters exchanged with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court accepted the documents as evidence, despite objections from the defense counsel led by Paul Daudu, SAN.
The witness further clarified that the school received payments through multiple international transfers from various companies and individuals. Some of these payments included $49,600 and $44,700 from Forza Oil and Gas, and $78,160 and $42,170 from Alyeshua Solutions Services. Additionally, there were several $75,000 transfers from Unnati General Trading LLC through a bank in the United Arab Emirates.
Further payments were reportedly sent by individuals and companies from Uganda, including transfers of $100,000 and $90,000 for beneficiaries associated with the Bello family. Okehone testified that these payments were consistent with the agreement to pay school fees in advance..
However, he said the school later refunded the full amount after correspondence with the anti-graft agency.
“The American International School wrote to the EFCC indicating its intention to refund the school fees paid,” he said.
“The EFCC then provided account details, and the school refunded the total sum of $760,910.84 to an EFCC account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Earlier in the proceedings, another prosecution witness, Yakubu Haruna, told the court about the sale of a property located on Danube Street in Maitama, Abuja.
He said the property, consisting of four detached housing units, was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited for ₦950 million, which he claimed was delivered in United States dollars at an office in Abuja.
The trial also featured testimony from bank officials and legal practitioners regarding other property transactions linked to the case.
After hearing the witnesses, Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to May 5 and 8, as well as June 16 and 17, 2026, for the continuation of the trial and hearing of pending applications.
Ads by Google
0 Comments