EXPOSED: HOW YAHAYA BELLO PAID $1.6 MILLION IN ADVANCE FOR HIS CHILDREN’S EDUCATION
A financial auditor from American International School, Abuja, has made a stunning revelation at the Federal High Court in Abuja, exposing how former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid a total of $1.6 million in tuition fees for his children—including a massive $845,852 advance payment for their future education.
This disclosure was made by Nicholas Ojehomon, the school’s financial auditor, who testified as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
MILLIONS IN PREPAID TUITION FOR CHILDREN NOT YET ENROLLED
According to Ojehomon, the payments were made in two tranches and covered tuition for four of Bello’s children, currently enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2. He revealed that the payments were structured to secure their education until graduation, with some funds even covering children who were yet to be enrolled.
The breakdown of the tuition fees includes:
- $90,074 for a Grade 8 student
- $87,470 for a Grade 6 student
- $26,241 for a Grade 4 student
- $18,707 for a Grade 2 student
EFCC UNCOVERS MASSIVE TRANSACTIONS
The EFCC, represented by counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), presented the school’s admission records and financial documents as evidence in court. Ojehomon also revealed that the payments were facilitated by Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, who directly handled the transactions with the school.
Ali Bello contacted the school on August 13, 2021, requesting to pay the children’s school fees in full until they graduate—an offer the school readily accepted.
However, the EFCC identified these funds as proceeds of money laundering, leading to an intense legal battle. The school was later ordered to refund $760,910.84 to an EFCC-designated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.
BANK RECORDS REVEAL HEAVY WITHDRAWALS FROM KOGI GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
Another witness, Williams from UBA, provided more shocking revelations, presenting bank statements linked to the Kogi State Government House account.
According to her testimony:
- Multiple withdrawals were made using cheques, often in chunks of N10 million per transaction
- On December 12, 2018, a staggering N100 million was withdrawn in just one day, split into ten separate transactions of N10 million each, allegedly paid to Abdulsalam Hudu
- Key signatories to the account included Christopher Enefola (Permanent Secretary), Onekutu Daniel (Chief Accountant), and Abdulsalam Hudu (Accountant)
DEFENSE PUSHES BACK: “BELLO’S NAME IS NOT ON ANY TRANSACTION”
Despite the damning revelations, Bello’s defense team, led by Daudu, challenged the evidence, pointing out that the former governor’s name did not appear in any of the financial transactions.
When asked under cross-examination, Williams admitted that Bello’s name was absent from the financial records presented as evidence. She also confirmed that she was not the account officer managing the Kogi State Government House account, as it was handled from Lokoja, not Abuja.
EFCC SEIZES $760,910 FROM SCHOOL, DECLARES IT MONEY LAUNDERING
Background reports show that the EFCC had been investigating these transactions since 2023. Documents obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed that the anti-graft agency seized the $760,910.84, claiming it was linked to financial crimes.
The EFCC’s probe found that the funds were deposited in multiple installments, and the school was used as a money laundering conduit without its knowledge. After back-and-forth exchanges, the school agreed to return the funds, making payments in tranches—first $1,000, then the remaining $759,910.84—to the CBN account provided by the EFCC.
THE LEGAL BATTLE CONTINUES
With Justice Emeka Nwite presiding over the case, the court adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, for further proceedings. The legal battle is far from over, and more revelations could still come to light.
MORAL LESSON: THIS IS THE NIGERIAN SYSTEM IN FULL DISPLAY
While millions of hardworking citizens struggle to afford quality education, some politicians are securing elite foreign schooling for their children with questionable funds. The fight against corruption and financial mismanagement in Nigeria is far from over.
