Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is currently facing allegations related to an N80.2 billion fraud case. A key revelation in the case involves advance dollar payments made for his children’s education at the American International School, Abuja (AISA).
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Court Testimony: Advance Tuition Payments
On March 6, 2025, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at AISA, testified before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. He stated that in 2021, Ali Bello, a cousin of Yahaya Bello, arranged to prepay the tuition fees of the former governor’s children until their graduation.
The children—Zayan Bello, Zara Bello, Farid Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello—had the following tuition amounts paid in advance:
- Farid Bello: $90,074
- Zara Bello: $87,470
- Na’ima Bello: $26,241
- Nana Bello: $18,707
Documents, including admission letters and prepaid tuition agreements, were presented as evidence in court.
Financial Transactions Under Scrutiny
Further investigations into Kogi State Government’s financial transactions revealed significant movements of funds. Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified that between January 2019 and December 2020, the Kogi State Government House account received total credits of N53.56 billion and had total debits of N53.55 billion.
He also highlighted that on December 12, 2018, multiple withdrawals of N10 million each were made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu, processed through over-the-counter cheques.
Legal Defense and Court Proceedings
The defense, led by J.B. Daudu, SAN, questioned the credibility of the financial records, arguing that an Abuja-based compliance officer may not have full oversight of an account domiciled in UBA’s Lokoja branch. Despite objections, the court admitted the documents as exhibits.
The trial is set to continue on March 7, 2025, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) deepens its investigation into the alleged fraud.
Public Reaction and Governance Concerns
The allegations have sparked debates on financial mismanagement and accountability among public officials. Many Nigerians are calling for stricter measures to prevent the misuse of state resources.
Source: EFCC Official Website
