The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, continued on Thursday, March 6, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The third prosecution witness (PW3), Nicholas Ojehomon, testified regarding payments made for the defendant’s children’s education in advance and in foreign currency.
Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja (AISA), stated that while he did not personally know Yahaya Bello, he was aware that he was a parent of children enrolled at the institution. “I did not know the defendant personally, but I am aware that he is a parent of children enrolled in our school,” he stated.
Upon reviewing admission records, the witness identified the defendant’s children as Zayan Bello, Zara Bello, Farid Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello, each admitted in different academic years. His examination of Exhibit 12, the prepaid tuition fee agreement, revealed that in 2021, Ali Bello, the defendant’s cousin, had contacted the school to arrange advance payment of the children’s fees until their graduation.
The prosecution, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kemi Pinheiro, tendered several documents as evidence, including certified copies of AISA admission letters for the defendant’s children, a contractual agreement for prepaid tuition, teller copies of payments, email correspondences between Ali Bello and the school, as well as statements of account from TD Bank USA and the American International School. The defence raised no objections, and the court admitted the documents as exhibits.
Providing further financial details, the witness confirmed significant payments made for each child’s tuition:
- Farid Bello – $90,074
- Zara Bello – $87,470
- Na’ima Bello – $26,241
- Nana Bello – $18,707
The prosecution also introduced Exhibit 17, a letter from AISA to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requesting a valid account number for the refund of tuition fees. The letter referenced two amounts: $845,082.84 and $750,910.84, with the latter sum designated for refund to the EFCC. Exhibit 18, a letter from the EFCC to AISA, confirmed that the refund was to be made into a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.
Earlier in the proceedings, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified under subpoena. She presented financial records, including the statement of account for the Kogi State Government House, which was admitted as Exhibit 8. The document detailed a total credit of ₦53.56 billion and a total debit of ₦53.55 billion between January 2019 and December 2020.
During cross-examination, PW2 confirmed that multiple ₦10 million withdrawals were made in favor of one Abdulsalam Hudu on December 12, 2018, via over-the-counter cheques. In a re-examination, the prosecution clarified that Exhibit 2P1, the certificate of compliance, was duly signed on behalf of Edward Bamanga, a relevant UBA official, thereby confirming the authenticity of the financial records.
The defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, contested the witness’s authority as an Abuja-based compliance officer to scrutinize an account domiciled in UBA’s Lokoja branch.
Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to Friday, March 7, 2025, for continuation.
