Yahaya Bello invested $845,852 for the future enrollment of his young children at an American school.

 

On Wednesday, an official from the American International School in Abuja testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja that the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had made a total payment of $1,606,763.68 in tuition fees for his children, which included an advance of $845,852 designated for the future enrollment of his younger children. Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the institution, provided this information while serving as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

He confirmed that these payments would cover the tuition fees for Bello's children until their graduation. Bello is currently facing allegations of fraud amounting to N80.2 billion, as filed by the EFCC. During the trial, the prosecution presented financial documents, including statements from the American International School, which outlined the payments made for Bello's children. In a previous hearing on January 29, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa Plc, testified under subpoena and submitted documents related to the school fee transactions. The EFCC had previously claimed that just before leaving office, Bello made an advance payment of $760,000 for his children's school fees, which was later refunded by the school following an investigation. 

 In the proceedings on Thursday, Ojehomon testified that Bello's brother, Ali Bello, was instrumental in facilitating the payment. He stated, "Mr. Ali Bello reached out to the American International School, Abuja, on Friday, August 13, to arrange for the payment of the Bello children's school fees until their graduation. The school management accepted his proposal." The witness further indicated that the payments were made for four of Bello's children, who are enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2.