A prosecution witness in the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, on Thursday, March 12, 2026 narrated before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how a total sum of $760,910.84 was paid as advance school fees for children of 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 Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the trial at the FCT High Court, Maitama.
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.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Okehone confirmed that the first defendant had four children enrolled in the school.
Asked if he knew the defendant, the witness replied: “Yes, I know him as a parent. He has children in my institution. He has four children at the American International School, Abuja.”
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 further confirmed several documents previously 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 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 between AISA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, regarding the refund of the fees. Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for details
