Witness admits no link between Yahaya Bello and school fee transfers in EFCC trial
The third prosecution witness in the money laundering case against former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday admitted before the Federal High Court in Abuja that there was no wire transfer from the Kogi State Government or any local government in the state to the American International School, Abuja (AISA).
Testifying during cross-examination, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at AISA, also conceded that no payment document bore Yahaya Bello’s name. He said the school had no record indicating that funds came directly from the former governor.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who is presiding over the case, earlier overruled the EFCC’s objection to admitting a judgment from the FCT High Court, which had ruled in favour of the defendant in a related suit involving school fee payments.
The judgment, now marked as Exhibit 19, stated that AISA had no court order compelling it to return the funds in question to the EFCC and that the money was paid under a legitimate future fees agreement with the Bello family.
During cross-examination, the witness was asked to read portions of the judgment that clarified the legality of the payments. The court ruled in favor of allowing this despite initial objections from EFCC counsel Olukayode Enitan, SAN.
The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, pressed the witness on the source of the $760,910 paid to the school. Ojehomon admitted there was no transfer from the Kogi State Government or any local government area in the financial records.
Justice Nwite emphasized the importance of substantial justice over technical objections and ruled that the defense was entitled to present the document. He subsequently adjourned the case to Friday, May 9, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
