FCT High Court Hears How $760,910 Was Paid As School Fees For Ex-Kogi Governor’s Children

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

The witness, Nicholas Okehone, an internal auditor at AISA and Prosecution Witness 14 (PW14), testified before Justice Maryanne Anineh, who is presiding over the trial. Bello is facing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering, allegedly involving N110.4 billion.
Okehone confirmed that Bello has four children enrolled at the school, identifying them as Zahra Fatima, Na’ima, Nana Fatima Bello, and Farid Bello.

He also mentioned Zayyan Ali Bello, a nephew’s child, as one of the beneficiaries of the payments.
During his testimony, Okehone confirmed several documents previously submitted to the court, including certificates of identification, admission letters, a prepayment agreement for school fees, bank telexes from U.S. banks, email correspondences, school receipts, and letters between AISA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding refunds. Despite objections from Bello’s legal team led by Paul Daudu, SAN, the court admitted the documents as Exhibits AX1 to AX13.

Okehone told the court that the prepayment agreement, signed by Grace Hudge, Head of School at AISA, and Ali Bello on behalf of the family, covered the four children and listed Zayyan Ali Bello as a future student.

He detailed multiple international transfers made to cover the fees, including:
$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
Payments of $75,000 were also made four times through Unnati General Trading LLC, while Manzi Issa and Dada Grand Merchant Limited from Uganda paid $100,000 and $90,000 respectively for Zayyan Ali Bello and Zainab Ali Bello.

The school’s TD Bank account reflected these payments.
“The school later refunded the money after correspondence with the EFCC,” Okehone said. “The American International School wrote to the EFCC indicating its intention to refund the fees. The EFCC then provided account details, and the full sum of $760,910.84 was refunded to an EFCC account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Earlier, Prosecution Witness 13, Yakubu Haruna, a lawyer, told the court about the sale of a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, owned by Palchi Nigeria Limited. The property, comprising four detached houses, was sold in January 2022 to White Tree Nigeria Limited for N950 million, paid in U.S. dollars. Haruna recounted that the payment was delivered in Ghana-Must-Go bags and later handed over to a Bureau de Change operator.

Other witnesses included Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer at Access Bank, and James Bem Igbakymeh, a lawyer, who testified on the sale of another property in Wuse II, Abuja, for ?650 million. Mohammed Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, also testified on the sale of land in Gwarimpa II District for N100 million.
The court admitted the Deed of Assignment and Irrevocable Power of Attorney related to the land sale as Exhibits AW1 and AW2.

After hearing the testimonies, Justice Anineh adjourned the trial to May 5 and 8, and June 16 and 17, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings and hearing of pending applications.