Ex-Gov Bello paid $1.6m kids’ tuition fees in advance to American School

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello paid a total of $1.6 million in tuition fees for his children at the American International School in Abuja, including an advance payment of $845,852 for future enrollments.

1.6 million US Dollars at the current exchange rate is approximately  ₦2,407,344,000.00 (Two billion, four hundred and seven million, three hundred and forty-four thousand Naira).

The school’s auditor, Nicholas Ojehomon, testified that the payments covered Bello’s children’s tuition until graduation and were made in two tranches, with one portion serving as an advance for future tuition fees.

Bello is currently facing an N80.2 billion fraud charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the testimony is part of the evidence presented against him.

According to Ojehomon, Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, facilitated the transactions, which covered four of Bello’s children enrolled in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the specific tuition amounts included $90,074 for a Grade 8 student, $87,470 for a Grade 6 student, $26,241 for a Grade 4 student, and $18,707 for a Grade 2 student.

Ojehomon also presented a contractual agreement between the school and Ali Bello, detailing the prepayment arrangement.

EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), submitted the school’s admission records and prepaid tuition fee documents as exhibits.

When asked whether any funds were refunded to the EFCC, Ojehomon stated, “$760,910.84 was refunded”.

He further confirmed that the EFCC provided a Central Bank of Nigeria account for the transaction.

The EFCC had alleged that the payment was linked to money laundering and had seized $760,910.84 from the school.

The agency had determined that the prepaid tuition funds were proceeds of crime and that the school had unknowingly been used as a money laundering conduit.

During the trial, a second prosecution witness, Williams from UBA, presented additional financial documents, including statements from accounts linked to Bello’s administration.

She testified that multiple withdrawals were made via cheques from the Kogi State Government House account, primarily issued to Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O..

However, under cross-examination, Williams admitted that Bello’s name did not appear in any transactions related to the Kogi Government House account.

“The name Yahaya Bello does not feature in exhibits P1 to P27,” defense counsel Daudu pointed out, to which Williams responded, “The name Bello did not appear anywhere”.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, for continuation of proceedings.

Yahaya Bello 

Yahaya Bello served as Governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024.

Born on June 18, 1975, in Okene, Kogi State, Bello is the youngest governor in Nigeria and the only governor born after the Nigerian Civil War.

His educational background includes a degree in accounting from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the same university.

He is a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Before becoming governor, Bello worked in the private sector and was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

He initially lost the APC gubernatorial primary in 2015 to Abubakar Audu but became the party’s nominee after Audu’s death on election day.

Bello was sworn in as governor in 2016 and re-elected in 2019 amid reports of violence and fraud.

During his tenure, Bello was involved in several controversies, including allegations of corruption, electoral malpractices, and COVID-19 denial.

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