Yahaya Bello’s Fraud Trial: American school fees, Kogi Govt accounts enter evidence list

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud continued on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented two witnesses and submitted multiple financial documents as evidence.

According to reports, the court admitted key documents, including the statement of account for the Kogi State Government House and financial records from the American International School, Abuja, where Bello’s children are enrolled.

The EFCC had earlier alleged that, shortly before leaving office, Bello made an advance payment of $760,000 in school fees to the institution. Investigators claim the school later refunded the amount to the EFCC during the probe.

During Monday’s proceedings, lead prosecutor Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) called Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, as the second prosecution witness. Testifying under subpoena, Abimbola submitted four sets of financial records, which the court admitted into evidence. These included:

• Kogi State Government House account opening package and statement (January 1, 2016 – January 31, 2024).
• American International School, Abuja account opening package and statement (September 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020).
• Statement of account for Macelina Njoku (January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022).

The defence raised no objections to the documents, leading Justice Emeka Nwite to adjourn the trial to March 6 and 7, 2025, for further proceedings.

Bello, who is facing 19 charges related to alleged money laundering, has pleaded not guilty to all accusations.

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