Yahaya Bello Trial: Court Told $760,910 Was Paid as Advance School Fees for Ex-Governor’s Children

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, that a total of $760,910.84 was paid as advance school fees for children linked to the former governor at the American International School Abuja (AISA).

The witness, Nicholas Okehone, an Internal Auditor with AISA and Prosecution Witness 14 (PW14), made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the trial at the FCT High Court, Maitama.

PulseNets learned that Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu over a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and alleged money laundering amounting to ₦110.4 billion.

During examination by prosecution counsel, Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the witness confirmed that the former governor had four children enrolled at the institution.

When asked whether he knew the defendant, Okehone responded:

“Yes, I know him as a parent. He has children in my institution. He has four children at the American International School, Abuja.”

While recalling the names of the students, the witness mentioned Zahra Fatima and Na’ima, adding that Nana Fatima Bello and Farid Bello were also enrolled at the school.

He further told the court that Zayyan Ali Bello, the son of Ali Bello, a nephew to the former governor, also benefited from the payments made to the school.

PulseNets learnt that the witness confirmed several documents earlier tendered before the Federal High Court, including:

• Certificates of identification

• Admission letters

• An agreement for pre-payment of school fees until graduation

• Telex copies of payments originating from banks in the United States

• Email correspondences between AISA and Ali Bello

• School receipts and statements of account from Zenith Bank and TD Bank

• Letters exchanged between AISA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding refund of the fees

Despite objections raised by defence counsel led by Paul Daudu, SAN, who indicated they would reserve their arguments for their final written address, Justice Anineh admitted the documents as Exhibits AX1 to AX13.

While identifying Exhibit AX4, the witness told the court that the document was an agreement titled “Pre-Paid School Fees Until Graduation.”

According to him, the agreement was signed by Grace Hudge, Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello, who signed on behalf of the Bello family.

The agreement listed the students as:

• Farid Bello

• Zahra Bello

• Na’ima Bello

• Nana Fatima Bello

It also included Zayyan Ali Bello as a prospective future student.

Okehone told the court that the school received payments through several international transfers made by different companies and individuals.

Among the transfers identified during his testimony were:

• $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

PulseNets obtained that Unnati General Trading LLC, through First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE, also transferred several payments of $75,000 each for Na’ima, Farid, Fatima, and Zahra Bello.

The witness further revealed that Manzi Issa, based in Kampala, Uganda, made a transfer of $100,000 for Zayyad Ali Bello, while Dada Grand Merchant Limited, also operating from Uganda, transferred $90,000 for Zainab Ali Bello.

Okehone also confirmed that the school’s TD Bank account reflected multiple inflows consistent with these payments, including transfers of $29,575, $44,675, $78,135, $42,145, and $74,920.71, with the last amount recorded four times on September 7.

He told the court:

“I confirm that all the payments are in line with the agreement to pay school fees in advance.”

The witness further disclosed that the school eventually refunded the funds 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.

Earlier in the proceedings, Prosecution Witness 13, Yakubu Haruna, a lawyer, also testified regarding the sale of a property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.

He told the court that the property, which consists of four detached housing units, belonged to Palchi Nigeria Limited, a company whose director is Honourable Faruk Mustapha.

According to Haruna, the property was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited for ₦950 million, with the payment made in United States dollars.

He told the court the transaction occurred at an office in Zone 4, Abuja.

“A man came with the dollar equivalent of ₦950 million in Ghana-Must-Go bags. After confirmation, my client directed the Bureau de Change operator, Murtala Maigari, to take custody of the money,” he said.

Haruna added that after confirming the payment, he handed over the title documents of the property to the buyer.

PulseNets reported that additional witnesses also testified during the proceedings.

One of them, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, appeared before the court alongside James Bem Igbakymeh, a legal practitioner.

Igbakymeh told the court he facilitated the sale of a property located on Durban Street, Wuse II, Abuja, belonging to SFC Foods Limited, for ₦650 million.

He said a man identified as Shehu Bello negotiated the purchase, while the payments were made through accounts belonging to SFC Foods Limited and JIT Agric Limited via Bureau de Change operators.

The witness further stated that he later honoured an invitation from the EFCC, where he submitted copies of documents relating to the transaction to investigators.

Another prosecution witness, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, also testified during the hearing.

He told the court that the company sold a parcel of land measuring 8,240.72 square metres, located at Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja, to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million.

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According to him, the payments were made through Keystone Bank in instalments by Murtala Maigari, acting on behalf of Ali Bello.

PulseNets learnt that the court admitted the Deed of Assignment and Irrevocable Power of Attorney related to the transaction as Exhibits AW1 and AW2 respectively.

Following the testimonies, Justice Anineh adjourned the matter to May 5 and May 8, as well as June 16 and June 17, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications and continuation of trial.