A witness testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s name was absent from records concerning a $760,910 payment made to the American International School, Abuja.
Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor for the school, stated during cross-examination that neither Bello, the Kogi State government, nor any of its local councils were listed as the source of the funds.
When defence lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) inquired whether any payments were made by the state or its local governments, Ojehomon responded, “No, there is no such name.”
This testimony followed the court’s acceptance of a judgment from the Federal Capital Territory High Court as evidence. The ruling, previously contested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was entered as Exhibit 19.
Justice Emeka Nwite overruled the EFCC’s objection, calling it “preemptive” and contrary to the principles of substantial justice. The EFCC had argued that, as the trial was criminal, the defence should not be allowed to present such documents before the prosecution had closed its case.
However, the judge sided with the defence, which argued the document’s relevance justified its admission.
The judgment stemmed from a civil case between Kogi State Chief of Staff Ali Bello and the school over advance tuition payments. The court ruled that the funds were legitimate payments for future fees and that AISA could not refund them to the EFCC without a court order.
EFCC counsel Olukayode Enitan (SAN) objected to the witness interpreting the judgment, but Daudu clarified that he only intended for the witness to read selected parts of the ruling, not interpret them.
The case forms part of a larger money laundering trial, in which the EFCC has filed 19 charges against Yahaya Bello, accusing him of laundering N80.2 billion.
The trial will resume on May 9, 2025.
