A prosecution witness in the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, narrated before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how a total sum of $760,910.84 was paid as advance school fees for children of the former governor at the American International School Abuja (AISA).
The witness, Nicholas Okehone, an Internal Auditor with AISA and Prosecution Witness 14, PW14, made the disclosure while testifying before Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the trial at the FCT High Court, Maitama.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of an alleged ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Okehone confirmed that the first defendant had four children enrolled in the school.
Asked if he knew the defendant, the witness replied:
“Yes, I know him as a parent. He has children in my institution. He has four children at the American International School, Abuja.”
When asked to recall their names, Okehone mentioned Zahra Fatima, and Na’ima, adding that Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello were also among the children. He also confirmed that Zayyan Ali Bello, the son of Ali Bello, a nephew to the former governor, was among the beneficiaries of the payments.
Okehone further confirmed several documents previously tendered before the Federal High Court, including:
• Certificates of identification
• Admission letters
• An agreement for pre-payment of school fees until graduation
• Telex copies of payments from banks in the United States
• Email correspondences between AISA and Ali Bello
• School receipts and statements of account from Zenith Bank and TD Bank
• Letters between AISA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, regarding the refund of the fees.
Despite objections from defence counsel led by Paul Daudu SAN, who said they would state their reasons in their final written addresses, Justice Anineh admitted the documents as exhibits AX1 to AX13.
While identifying Exhibit AX4, the witness told the court it was an agreement titled “Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation.”
According to him, the agreement was signed by Grace Hudge, Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello, on behalf of the Bello family.
The agreement listed the students as:
• Farid Bello
• Zahra Bello
• Na’ima Bello
• Nana Fatima Bello
It also included Zayyan Ali Bello as a future student.
Okehone explained that the school received payments through multiple international transfers.
Among them were:
• $49,600 from Forza Oil and Gas for Zahra Omeneke Bello
• $44,700 from Forza Oil and Gas for Fatima Bello
• $11,000 from Whales Oil and Gas for Farida Oricha
• $78,160 from Alyeshua Solutions Services for Fatima Bello
• $42,170 from Alyeshua Solutions Services for Na’ima Ohunene Bello
He further told the court that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank, UAE, made several payments of $75,000 for Na’ima, Farid, Fatima, and Zahra Bello.
Another transfer of $100,000 was made by Manzi Issa from Kampala, Uganda, for Zayyad Ali Bello, while Dada Grand Merchant Limited, also from Uganda, paid $90,000 for Zainab Ali Bello.
The witness also confirmed that the school’s TD Bank account reflected several inflows consistent with these transfers, including payments of $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71 made four times on September 7.
“I confirm that all the payments are in line with the agreement to pay school fees in advance,” he said.
Okehone further testified that the school later refunded the money after correspondence with the EFCC.
“The American International School wrote to the EFCC indicating its intention to refund the school fees paid. 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,” he said.
Earlier, Prosecution Witness 13, Yakubu Haruna, a lawyer, told the court about the sale of a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.
He said the property, comprising four detached housing units, belonged to Palchi Nigeria Limited, whose director is Honourable Faruk Mustapha.
According to him, the property was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited for ₦950 million, which was paid in United States dollars.
Haruna told the court that the payment was made at an office in Zone 4, Abuja.
“A man came with the dollar equivalent of ₦950 million in Ghana-Must-Go bags. After confirmation, my client directed the Bureau de Change operator, Murtala Maigari, to take custody of the money,” he said.
He added that after the payment, he handed over the title documents to the buyer.
Other witnesses also testified during the proceedings.
A compliance officer with Access Bank, Olomotane Egoro, and another witness, James Bem Igbakymeh, a legal practitioner, who told the court that he facilitated the sale of a property located at Durban Street, Wuse II, Abuja, belonging to SFC Foods Limited, for ₦650 million.
He said a man identified as Shehu Bello negotiated the purchase and payments were made through accounts belonging to SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited via Bureau de Change operators.
The witness added that he later honoured an invitation by the EFCC and submitted copies of the transaction documents to investigators.
Another prosecution witness, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, testified that the company sold a plot of land measuring 8,240.72 square metres at Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja, to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million.
He said the payments were made through Keystone Bank in tranches by Murtala Maigari on behalf of Ali Bello.
The court admitted the Deed of Assignment and Irrevocable Power of Attorney relating to the transaction as Exhibits AW1 and AW2, respectively.
After hearing the testimonies, Justice Anineh adjourned the case to May 5 and 8, as well as June 16 and 17, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications and continuation of trial.
