By Our reporter 12.3.2026
A High Court sitting in Maitama Abuja heard on Thursday how former Kogi State governor Bello Yahaya wired $760,910.84 American International School Abuja (AISA) for an advance payment for his children’s school fees.
The prosecution witness Nicholas Okehone, an Internal Auditor with AISA and Prosecution Witness 14, PW14 testified in Court in the resumed trial of the Mr. Bello in charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of an alleged ₦110.4 billion.
Mr. Okehone told presiding judge Justice Maryanne Anineh, Bello made the payment through multiple international transfers. He was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Okehone confirmed that the first defendant had four children enrolled in the school.
When asked to recall their names, Okehone mentioned Zahra Fatima, and Na’ima, adding that Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello were also among the children. He also confirmed that Zayyan Ali Bello, the son of Ali Bello, a nephew to the former governor, was among the beneficiaries of the payments.
Okehone explained that the school received payments through:
• $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 further told the court that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank, UAE, made several payments of $75,000 for Na’ima, Farid, Fatima, and Zahra Bello.
Another transfer of $100,000 was made by Manzi Issa from Kampala, Uganda, for Zayyad Ali Bello, while Dada Grand Merchant Limited, also from Uganda, paid $90,000 for Zainab Ali Bello.
The witness also confirmed that the school’s TD Bank account reflected several inflows consistent with these transfers, including payments of $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71 made four times on September 7.
“I confirm that all the payments are in line with the agreement to pay school fees in advance,” he said.
Okehone further testified that the school later refunded the money after correspondence with the EFCC.
“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,” he said.
After hearing the testimonies, Justice 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.