Abuja, March 6, 2025 – A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has testified that the ex-governor paid his children’s school fees in advance and in U.S. dollars.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja (AISA), confirmed that Bello’s children were enrolled at the school and that their tuition was prepaid until graduation. The payments were facilitated by Bello’s cousin, Ali Bello, in 2021.
The court admitted several documents into evidence, including admission letters, prepaid tuition agreements, bank statements, and email correspondences between Ali Bello and the school. Teller copies showed substantial payments, with one child’s fees amounting to $90,074.
The prosecution also presented a letter from AISA to the EFCC indicating a planned refund of $750,910.84 to the anti-graft agency.
Earlier, a United Bank for Africa (UBA) compliance officer, Williams Abimbola, testified about significant transactions linked to the Kogi State Government House account, revealing a total credit of N53.56 billion and multiple cash withdrawals.
Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to March 7, 2025.
