May 08, (THEWILL) – A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nicholas Ojehomon, on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that there is no evidence showing that the Kogi State Government paid tuition fees for the children of former Governor Yahaya Bello at the American International School, Abuja (AISA).
Bello is currently facing a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering, fraud, and the alleged misappropriation of N80.2bn in public funds.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, Ojehomon, who is the third prosecution witness (PW-3) and an internal auditor at AISA, said during cross-examination by Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that there was no record of any wire transfer from the Kogi State Government or its local government councils to the school’s account.
He also confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any payment records or list of parents who made tuition payments to the school.
Referring to AISA’s bank statement admitted as Exhibit 16, Daudu asked, “Looking at the fund column, does it reflect the names of those who wired money into the account?”
“Yes, it does,” Ojehomon replied.
“Is there any wired transfer from the Kogi State Government?”
“No, there is no such name,” the witness responded.
“What about any of Kogi’s local governments?”
“No,” he said.
“Is there any payment made directly by Alhaji Yahaya Bello?”
“No, there is no name like Yahaya Bello in the statement,” Ojehomon stated.
He further testified that other parents also paid school fees into the same account, and their names appeared clearly in the bank records.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite overruled an objection raised by the EFCC over the admissibility of a judgment previously delivered by the FCT High Court, which had ruled in favour of the Bello family in a $1.6m tuition dispute with AISA.
The judge held that the EFCC’s objection was premature, ruling that the judgment was relevant and admissible under Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act. It was subsequently marked as Exhibit 19.
While the EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinhero (SAN), argued that the defence could not tender the document before the prosecution closed its case, Daudu countered that admissibility hinges on relevance, not on trial sequence. Justice Nwite upheld the argument, describing the EFCC’s objection as speculative.
During further cross-examination, Ojehomon also confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name was absent from all correspondence and authorisation letters relating to the $760,910 payment to AISA.
He disclosed that the school had a contractual arrangement with Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s brother, regarding the tuition and prepayment for future enrolment of younger children.
Justice Nwite adjourned further hearing in the matter to Friday, May 9.
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