EFCC Witness Reveals Yahaya Bello Paid $1.6 Million in Advance for Children’s School Fees
In a dramatic revelation during the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, an internal auditor from the American International School, Abuja (AISA), testified on Thursday, March 6, 2025, that Bello paid over $1.6 million in advance for his children’s tuition fees until their graduation. The testimony was presented before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, as part of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) case against the former governor.
Nicholas Ojehomon, the Third Prosecution Witness (PW3), told the court that although he did not know Bello personally, he was aware that the former governor was a parent of children enrolled in the school. Ojehomon identified Bello’s children as Zayan Bello, Zara Bello, Farid Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello, each admitted in different academic years.
Details of the Tuition Payments
Ojehomon explained that Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s cousin, contacted the school in 2021 to arrange for the prepayment of the children’s tuition fees until their graduation. The witness presented Exhibit 12, a contractual agreement for prepaid tuition fees, which detailed the arrangement.
Prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, tendered several documents as evidence, including certified copies of AISA admission letters for Bello’s children, the prepaid tuition agreement, teller copies of payments, email correspondence between Ali Bello and the school, and statements of account from TD Bank USA and AISA. The defence counsel raised no objections, and the court admitted the documents as exhibits.
According to Ojehomon, the prepaid tuition fees amounted to significant sums for each child:
- Farid Bello: $90,074
- Zara Bello: $87,470
- Na’ima Bello: $26,241
- Nana Bello: $18,707
The total prepaid fees exceeded $1.6 million.
Refund Request and EFCC’s Involvement
The prosecution also presented Exhibit 17, a letter from AISA to the EFCC requesting a valid account number for the refund of the fees. The document indicated two amounts: $845,082.84 and $750,910.84, with the latter earmarked for a refund to the EFCC. Exhibit 18, a letter from the EFCC to AISA, confirmed that the refund was to be made to a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.
Earlier Testimony from UBA Compliance Officer
Earlier in the trial, the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified under subpoena. Abimbola presented a statement of account belonging to the Kogi State Government House, marked as Exhibit 8. The statement showed a total credit of N53.56 billion and a total debit of N53.55 billion between January 2019 and December 2020.
During cross-examination, Abimbola confirmed that several N10 million withdrawals were made in favor of one Abdulsalam Hudu on December 12, 2018, using cheques processed over the counter.
The prosecution counsel clarified during re-examination that Exhibit 2P1, a certificate of compliance, was signed on behalf of Edward Bamanga, a relevant bank official, confirming the authenticity of the financial documents. “All records presented are verifiable and were duly obtained in line with legal procedures,” the prosecution stated.
Defence’s Challenge
Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, questioned how Abimbola, an Abuja-based compliance officer, could scrutinize an account domiciled in the Lokoja branch of UBA. Despite this challenge, the court admitted the evidence.
Adjournment
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Friday, March 7, 2025, for the continuation of the trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the defendant and the substantial sums involved.
Implications of the Case
The trial highlights the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute allegations of financial misconduct by public officials. The revelations about the prepaid tuition fees and the substantial government account transactions raise questions about the use of public funds and the accountability of elected officials.
As the trial continues, stakeholders are closely watching the proceedings, which could have far-reaching implications for governance and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
