A prosecution witness on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that a total of $760,910.84 was paid as advance school fees for the children of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, at the American International School Abuja.
The witness, Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor with the school and Prosecution Witness 14 (PW14), disclosed this while testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the trial at the FCT High Court.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Okehone confirmed that Bello had four children enrolled at the school.
“Yes, I know him as a parent. He has children in my institution. He has four children at the American International School, Abuja,” the witness told the court.
He identified the students as Zahra Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello, adding that Zayyan Ali Bello, son of Ali Bello, a nephew of the former governor, was also listed as a future beneficiary of the school fee arrangement.
Okehone confirmed several documents previously tendered before the 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 correspondence between the school and Ali Bello, as well as school receipts and statements of account from Zenith Bank and TD Bank.
He also identified letters exchanged between the school and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the refund of the school fees.
Despite objections by defence counsel led by Paul Daudu (SAN), who indicated they would state their reasons in their final written address, Justice Anineh admitted the documents as Exhibits AX1 to AX13.
While identifying Exhibit AX4, Okehone said it was an agreement titled “Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation,” signed by the Head of School at AISA, Grace Hudge, and Ali Bello on behalf of the Bello family.
According to him, the agreement listed Farid Bello, Zahra Bello, Na’ima Bello and Nana Fatima Bello as beneficiaries, while Zayyan Ali Bello was included as a prospective student.
The witness explained that the school received several international transfers to settle the fees.
He said the payments included $49,600 from Forza Oil and Gas for Zahra Omanike 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, and $42,170 from Alyeshua Solutions Services for Na’ima Ohunene Bello.
Okehone further stated that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank in the United Arab Emirates, made several transfers of $75,000 each for Na’ima, Farid, Fatima and Zahra Bello.
Another transfer of $100,000 was reportedly made by Manzi Issa from Kampala, Uganda, for Zayyad Ali Bello, while Dada Grand Merchant Limited, also based in Uganda, paid $90,000 for Zainab Ali Bello.
He added that the school’s TD Bank account reflected multiple inflows consistent with these transactions, including payments of $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71, with the last amount transferred four times on September 7.
“I confirm that all the payments are in line with the agreement to pay school fees in advance,” Okehone said.
The witness further told the court that the school later refunded the funds following 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, testified about the sale of a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which he said belonged to Palchi Nigeria Limited.
According to him, the property—comprising four detached housing units—was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited for ₦950 million, 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.
Another witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, also testified during the proceedings.
In a related testimony, James Bem Igbakymeh, a legal practitioner, told the court that he facilitated the sale of a property on Durban Street, Wuse II, Abuja, belonging to SFC Foods Limited for ₦650 million.
He said the transaction was negotiated by a man identified as Shehu Bello and that the payments were made through accounts belonging to SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited via Bureau de Change operators.
Igbakymeh added that he later honoured an invitation by the EFCC and submitted relevant 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.
Justice Anineh subsequently 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 the trial.
