The ongoing legal battle between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as an official of the American International School, Abuja, provided testimony concerning a massive prepayment of school fees for Bello’s children.
Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the American International School, Abuja, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja as a prosecution witness for the EFCC.
He revealed that Bello had paid a staggering $1,606,763.68 in tuition fees for his children, including an advance payment of $845,852 for younger children yet to be enrolled in the school.
Details of the Payment
According to Ojehomon’s testimony, the payments were made in two tranches, covering tuition until the children’s graduation. The payments were facilitated through Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, who, on August 13, 2021, contacted the school to arrange the advance tuition payment. The school accepted the offer, and payments were made for four of Bello’s children who were already enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2 at the time.
Breaking down the payments, Ojehomon disclosed:
- $90,074 for the child in Grade 8
- $87,470 for the child in Grade 6
- $26,241 for the child in Grade 4
- $18,707 for the child in Grade 2
In addition to these payments, Bello also made provisions for future children to be enrolled in the school, with an expected start date of August 2022, depending on availability.
Financial Transactions and Refunds
The EFCC, in its case against Bello, alleges that he misappropriated state funds, amounting to N80.2 billion, during his tenure as governor. The commission claims that shortly before leaving office, Bello paid $760,000 as an advance for his children’s school fees. Following an investigation, the school refunded $760,910.84 to an account provided by the EFCC at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Supporting the prosecution’s case, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, testified earlier on January 29, submitting documents that detailed the transactions made towards the school fees.
Investigations into Kogi State Government House Accounts
Further testimony in court was provided by another prosecution witness from UBA, identified as Williams.
She presented additional financial records showing multiple withdrawals through cheques from the Kogi State Government House account. According to her, these transactions were often processed in N10 million tranches and were primarily issued to two individuals—Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O.
For instance, on December 12, 2018, a total of ten transactions of N10 million each were processed in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu.
She also named key signatories to the account, including Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalam Hudu (Accountant).
However, under cross-examination by Bello’s defense counsel, Williams admitted that Bello’s name did not appear in any of the transactions linked to the Kogi Government House account.
Defense counsel Daudu noted that there was no direct mention of Bello in exhibits presented before the court, a point Williams confirmed by stating, “The name Bello did not appear anywhere.”
She also acknowledged that she was not the account officer managing the Kogi Government House account, clarifying that the account was operated from Lokoja, Kogi State, rather than from her branch in Abuja.
Legal Implications and Next Steps
As the case unfolds, the EFCC continues to present financial records and witness testimonies to establish a link between the misappropriation of state funds and the extravagant school fee payments made on behalf of Bello’s children.
The defense, on the other hand, is seeking to dismantle the prosecution’s case by emphasizing the absence of Bello’s direct involvement in the transactions.
The coming days will determine whether the court finds the former governor culpable or whether the defense can successfully challenge the allegations against him.
This high-profile case remains a significant test for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, as it raises critical questions about public officials’ financial accountability and the management of state resources.
