Bello children school fees payment revealed in court as AISA auditor testifies that $760,910 was paid in advance and later refunded to EFCC
Nicholas Okehone, Internal Auditor at the American International School Abuja (AISA), on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that a total of $760,910.84 was paid as advance school fees for children of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, in a transaction now forming part of the ongoing corruption trial against the former governor.
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Okehone testified as the first prosecution witness in Bello’s trial before Justice Maryanne Anineh, where the former governor faces a 16 count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving an alleged ₦110.4 billion.
The witness, who was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, confirmed that Bello had four children enrolled at the school.
Nicholas Okehone told the court that the children included Zahra Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello.
The witness also confirmed that Zayyan Ali Bello, the son of Ali Bello, a nephew of the former governor, was listed as a future beneficiary of the advance tuition arrangement.
The testimony formed part of evidence surrounding the Bello children school fees payment, which prosecutors allege is linked to financial transactions under investigation.
Okehone said the school entered into an agreement titled “Pre Paid School Fees Until Graduation”, which allowed advance payment of tuition fees covering the children’s education until graduation.
According to the witness, the agreement was signed by Grace Hudge, Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello, who acted on behalf of the Bello family.
The court heard that several international transfers were made to fulfil the agreement. Payments included $49,600 from Forza Oil and Gas for Zahra Omanike Bello, $44,700 from the same company for Fatima Bello, and $11,000 from Whales Oil and Gas for Farida Oricha.
Other transfers included $78,160 from Alyeshua Solutions Services for Fatima Bello and $42,170 from the same company for Na’ima Ohunene Bello.
The witness also testified that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank in the United Arab Emirates, made multiple payments of $75,000 for several of the students.
Additional transfers included $100,000 from Manzi Issa in Kampala, Uganda, for Zayyan Ali Bello and $90,000 from Dada Grand Merchant Limited, also from Uganda, for Zainab Ali Bello.
Nicholas Okehone further told the court that the school’s TD Bank account recorded several inflows that matched the payment pattern, including transfers of $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71, with four payments occurring on September 7.
“I confirm that all the payments are in line with the agreement to pay school fees in advance,” the witness said.
However, the court was told that the school later refunded the funds after correspondence with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nicholas Okehone explained that AISA formally informed the anti graft agency of its intention to return the money.
“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,” the witness said.
Despite objections raised by defence counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, Justice Maryanne Anineh admitted several documents into evidence as exhibits AX1 to AX13.
The documents included admission letters, certificates of identification, bank transfer records, school receipts, email correspondence and statements of account linked to the payments.
Earlier during the proceedings, another prosecution witness, Yakubu Haruna, a lawyer, testified about the sale of a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which he said was sold in January 2022 for ₦950 million.
Yakubu Haruna told the court that the buyer, White Tree Nigeria Limited, paid the amount in United States dollars delivered in cash.
“A man came with the dollar equivalent of ₦950 million in Ghana Must Go bags,” the witness said, adding that a Bureau de Change operator, Murtala Maigari, was directed to take custody of the money after confirmation.
Additional testimony came from Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, and James Bem Igbakymeh, a legal practitioner who said he facilitated the sale of another Abuja property belonging to SFC Foods Limited for ₦650 million.
James Bem Igbakymeh told the court that the transaction was negotiated by a man identified as Shehu Bello, with payments routed through Bureau de Change operators.
Another witness, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, also confirmed 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.
Mohammed Abdulaziz said the payments were made through Keystone Bank in tranches by Murtala Maigari on behalf of Ali Bello.
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After hearing the testimonies and admitting several transaction documents as exhibits, Justice Maryanne Anineh 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 trial.
