Yahaya Bello not named in fee transactions for his children, EFCC witness tells court

Nicholas Ohehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, says the Kogi state government did not transfer any fund to the school for the tuition of Yahaya Bello’s children.

Bello, a former governor of Kogi state, is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80 billion.

At the resumption of court proceedings on Thursday, Ohehomon, who initially appeared before the court in March, was presented to continue his testimony.

In his first appearance in court, Ohehomon, the prosecution witness three (PW3), claimed that the tuition of Bello’s five children was paid in advance until their graduation.

He added that the school had refunded the money to an account provided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a directive from the anti-graft agency.

Among the documents he submitted to the court was an agreement for prepaid school fees covering Bello’s five children enrolled at the school.

At the resumption of hearing on Thursday, he was cross examined by Joseph Daudu, counsel to the former governor.

Asked if the bank statement of the American school admitted as “exhibit 16” showed the names of those who transferred funds to the account, the witness responded in affirmation.

When asked if the bank statement indicated that a transfer was made by the Kogi state government, the internal auditor responded in negative.

Asked if the bank statement showed that a transfer was made by any local government in Kogi, the witness said “no”.

“What of the name, Alhaji Yahaya Bello? Is there any direct transfer bearing the name Yahaya Bello on the face of the document?” the defense counsel asked.

“No, there is no name like Yahaya Bello in the statement,” Ohehomon said.

When asked if other parents pay money into the account as school fees, the witness responded in affirmative.

The witness admitted that the names of parents who transferred money to the account reflected in the statement.

Earlier in the court, Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, rejected the request of the EFCC to stop Bello from tendering a previous court document in his ongoing trial.

Daudu had sought to tender a judgment of the FCT high court in the suit between Ali Bello, the ex-governor’s nephew, and Incorporated Trustees of American International School.

Daudu argued that the document, which is a judgment of another court, was relevant in the ongoing case.

However, Kemi Pinhero, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the admissibility of the document, adding that the prosecution was yet to close its case.

PREVIOUS COMMENT ON THE SCHOOL FEES SAGA

In April 2024, Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, alleged that Bello withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffers to pay his child’s school fee in advance.

The EFCC boss alleged that the former Kogi governor transferred money from the state coffers to a bureau de change operator, and used the money for his child’s school fee.

Olukoyede added that Bello made the payment in anticipation that his tenure was gradually coming to an end. Bello has since denied the claims.