School Fees of $720k: Drama as Witness Opens Up in Yahaya Bello vs EFCC Case

• The case involving Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi state, and the EFCC took a dramatic turn on Thursday, May 8, at the FCT High Court in Abuja
• During the day's session, Nicholas Ohehomon, EFCC witness and an auditor of the American International School, testified before the court on Bello's alleged advance payment of his children's school fees
• In 2024, Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, alleged that the former governor withdrew $720,000 from Kogi's account to make the advance payment

FCT, Abuja - A fresh twist emerged in the case between former Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as proceedings began at the FCT High Court on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Nicholas Ohehomon, a prosecution witness and an auditor of the American International School, told the court that the Kogi state government did not transfer money to the school to pay Yahaya Bello's children's school fees.

What are EFCC's allegations against Yahaya Bello?

The former governor is facing a 19-count charge related to money laundering allegations amounting to N80 billion

Ohehomon testified in court about the payment of school fees for Bello's children. Ohehomon, an internal auditor, claimed that the tuition was paid in advance until the children's graduation and that the school had refunded the money to an account provided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During cross-examination, Ohehomon's testimony showed that the bank statement for the American school did not show any direct transfers from the Kogi state government, local governments in Kogi, or Yahaya Bello himself.

The witness confirmed that other parents paid school fees into the account, and their names were reflected in the statement.

Bello's lawyer questions EFCC's witness

The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, questioned Ohehomon about the bank statement, which was admitted as "exhibit 16." The witness affirmed that the statement showed the names of the parents who transferred funds to the account.

The court hearing also saw the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, reject the EFCC's request to stop Bello from tendering a previous court document in his ongoing trial.

Daudu had earlier prayed the FCT High Court in the case between the former governor's nephew, Ali Bello, and the Incorporated Trustees of American International School.

In his argument, he claimed the document was more important in the ongoing trial, even though it was a judgment of another court.

EFCC's lawyer rejects Yahaya Bello's request

However, the prosecuting counsel of the EFCC, Kemi Pinhero, objected to the tendering of the document. In her argument, the prosecution had yet to close its case.

Recall that in April 2024, the chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, raised the allegation that the former governor withdrew $720,000 from the Kogi state account to make an advance payment of his children's school fees.

Yahaya Bello honours EFCC's invitation

Legit.ng earlier reported that Bello finally honoured the EFCC invitation for questioning.

Bello's media office announced the development on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, adding that the former governor honoured the EFCC out of his respect for the rule of law.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng