A prosecution witness in the ongoing N80.2 billion fraud trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has revealed that the ex-governor paid his children’s school fees in dollars and in advance until their graduation.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, March 6, 2025, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja (AISA), confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s cousin, Ali Bello, arranged the payments in 2021.
Documents tendered in court showed the fees were prepaid in dollars, with Farid Bello’s fees amounting to $90,074, Zara Bello’s $87,470, Na’ima Bello’s $26,241, and Nana Bello’s $18,707. The school refunded $750,910.84 to the EFCC following investigations.
Earlier, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with UBA, presented bank records showing transactions from the Kogi State Government House account, with N53.55 billion debited between January 2019 and December 2020. Justice Nwite adjourned the case to Friday, March 7, 2025, for continuation of trial.
