An FCT High Court heard that $760,910 was allegedly used to pay advance school fees for former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello’s children at the American International School Abuja
Court Told $760,910 Was Used to Pay Yahaya Bello’s Children’s School Fees at Abuja International School
Fresh revelations emerged on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court Maitama in Abuja as a prosecution witness disclosed how $760,910.84 was allegedly used to pay advance school fees for the children of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, at the American International School Abuja (AISA).
The testimony was delivered by Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor at the school and the 14th prosecution witness, during proceedings before Justice Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the high-profile corruption trial.
Bello is currently standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving an alleged ₦110.4 billion.
While being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Okehone told the court that four of Bello’s children were enrolled at AISA.
According to him, the students include Farid Bello, Zahra Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello.
He added that Zayyan Ali Bello, the son of Ali Bello, a nephew of the former governor, also benefited from the school fee arrangement.
Okehone explained that the school entered into a “Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation” agreement with the Bello family.
The arrangement allowed tuition fees for the children to be paid in advance up to their graduation.
The witness told the court that the agreement was signed by Grace Hudge, Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello, who represented the family.
According to Okehone, the funds were received through multiple international transfers from companies and individuals across several countries.
Among the payments presented in court were:
$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
$42,170 from Alyeshua Solutions Services for Na’ima Ohunene Bello
He also disclosed that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE, transferred $75,000 each for several of the Bello children.
Other payments included:
$100,000 from Manzi Issa in Kampala, Uganda, for Zayyad Ali Bello
$90,000 from Dada Grand Merchant Limited in Uganda for Zainab Ali Bello
According to the witness, records from the school’s TD Bank account showed multiple inflows corresponding with the transactions.
The payments included $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 told the court.
Okehone further informed the court that the American International School Abuja later refunded the entire $760,910.84 after communicating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The school wrote to the EFCC indicating its intention to refund the school fees paid. The commission then provided an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the total amount was refunded,” he said.
Earlier in the proceedings, Prosecution Witness 13, lawyer Yakubu Haruna, narrated how a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, was sold for ₦950 million.
The property, which consists of four detached housing units, belonged to Palchi Nigeria Limited and was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited.
Haruna told the court that the payment was made in United States dollars and delivered in cash.
“A man came with the dollar equivalent of ₦950 million in Ghana-Must-Go bags. After confirmation, my client instructed a Bureau de Change operator, Murtala Maigari, to take custody of the money,” he said.
Another witness, lawyer James Bem Igbakymeh, testified that he facilitated the ₦650 million sale of a property on Durban Street, Wuse II, Abuja, belonging to SFC Foods Limited.
He said the transaction was negotiated by Shehu Bello, while payments were made through accounts linked to SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited via Bureau de Change operators.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, told the court that the company sold a plot of land measuring 8,240.72 square metres in Gwarimpa II District, Abuja, to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million.
He said the payments were made in tranches through Keystone Bank by Murtala Maigari on behalf of Ali Bello.
The court admitted the Deed of Assignment and Irrevocable Power of Attorney related to the transaction as Exhibits AW1 and AW2.
Justice Anineh also admitted several documents presented by the prosecution as Exhibits AX1 to AX13, despite objections raised by defence counsel Paul Daudu, SAN.
Daudu indicated that the defence would address the objections in their final written submissions.
The admitted documents include:
Admission letters
Payment receipts
Bank transfer records
Correspondence between AISA and the EFCC
Agreements relating to advance school fee payments
After hearing testimonies from the witnesses, Justice Anineh adjourned the case to May 5 and May 8, as well as June 16 and June 17, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications and continuation of the trial.
The high-profile case remains one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former Nigerian governor. Read More
