Witness Reveals $760K School Fees Paid from Alleged Fraud Funds in Bello’s N110bn Trial

ABUJA—In a dramatic testimony that peeled back layers of the sprawling N110.4 billion fraud case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, a key prosecution witness on Thursday revealed how $760,910.84 in advance school fees for Bello’s children flowed through shadowy companies and international wires to the American International School Abuja (AISA).

Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor at AISA and the 14th prosecution witness (PW14), laid bare the transactions before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama. Bello, 49, faces a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering alongside co-defendants Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges the trio siphoned state funds during Bello’s 2016-2024 tenure, a period marked by Kogi’s infrastructure promises amid financial scandals.

Okehone, led by star prosecutor Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), confirmed Bello enrolled four children—Zahra Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, Nana Fatima Bello, and Farid Bello—at AISA. He also identified Zayyan Ali Bello, nephew of Bello’s ally Ali Bello (former Kogi chief of staff and EFCC fugitive), as a beneficiary. “Yes, I know him as a parent. He has four children at the American International School, Abuja,” Okehone stated.

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Documents Expose Prepaid Fees Agreement

Over defense objections from Paul Erokoro (SAN)—who reserved arguments for final addresses—Justice Anineh admitted 13 exhibits (AX1-AX13), including ID certificates, admission letters, bank telexes, emails with Ali Bello, Zenith and TD Bank statements, and EFCC refund correspondence.

Exhibit AX4, the “Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation” agreement signed by AISA Head Grace Hudge and Ali Bello, listed the Bello children plus Zayyan as a future enrollee. Payments trickled in from obscure entities, raising EFCC suspicions of money laundering:

• $49,600 from Forza Oil and Gas (Zahra Omanike Bello)
• $44,700 from Forza Oil and Gas (Fatima Bello)
• $11,000 from Whales Oil and Gas (Farida Oricha)
• $78,160 from Alyeshua Solutions Services (Fatima Bello)
• $42,170 from Alyeshua Solutions Services (Na’ima Ohunene Bello)
• Multiple $75,000 wires from Unnati General Trading LLC via First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE) for Na’ima, Farid, Fatima, and Zahra
• $100,000 from Manzi Issa (Kampala, Uganda) for Zayyan Ali Bello
• $90,000 from Dada Grand Merchant Limited (Uganda) for Zainab Ali Bello

TD Bank records matched these, including four September 7 inflows: $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71. “All payments align with the prepaid agreement,” Okehone affirmed. AISA later refunded the full $760,910.84 to an EFCC account at the Central Bank of Nigeria after agency correspondence.

Parallel Property Deals Under Scrutiny

The day’s hearings layered on property sales linked to the alleged graft. PW13 Yakubu Haruna, a lawyer, described Palchi Nigeria Limited’s (Dir: Hon. Faruk Mustapha) January 2022 sale of four Maitama units at No. 35 Danube Street to White Tree Nigeria Limited for N950 million—delivered in “Ghana-Must-Go” bags of dollars at a Zone 4 office. Bureau de Change operator Murtala Maigari handled custody.

Access Bank’s Olomotane Egoro (compliance officer) and lawyer James Bem Igbakymeh detailed a N650 million Durban Street, Wuse II sale by SFC Foods Limited. Buyer Shehu Bello routed funds via SFC and JIT Agric accounts through bureaus.

Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company’s Chief Accountant Mohammed Abdulaziz testified on an N100 million Gwarimpa plot (Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03) sold to Azba Real Estate Limited, with Keystone Bank tranches from Maigari on Ali Bello’s behalf. Exhibits AW1-AW2 (Deed of Assignment, Power of Attorney) were admitted.

Arrested in Abuja last April after a Benin hideout, Bello jumped bail in October 2025, prompting Interpol notices. Kogi allies claim political persecution by the Tinubu administration, but EFCC probes span 40 properties, luxury cars, and N80 billion+ diversions. Ali Bello, charged separately, remains at large. Justice Anineh adjourned to May 5-8 and June 16-17 for applications and trial continuation.

The case spotlights Nigeria’s elite accountability push amid economic strains, with Kogi voters watching if Bello’s “Ebeba” swagger survives the courtroom.