No Transfer of Kogi Govt’s Funds to Abuja American School, EFCC’s Witness Admits

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nicholas Ojehomon, has admitted before a Federal High Court in Abuja, that there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American International School, Abuja.

Ojehomon, who is an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, also admitted that there was no transfer bearing the name Yahaya Bello in the records of parents who paid school fees for their wards.

Ojehomon, who testified as third prosecution witness (PW3), stated this under cross examination in the alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello.

During cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness told the court that there was no transfer bearing the name, Yahaya Bello in the documents.

When he was given Exhibit 19 (the FCT Court judgment), and asked to read out parts of the judgment, the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, objected.

“But it has been tendered and admitted by the court. I should be allowed to conduct my case the way I like. My lord, what I am saying is that I should be allowed to conduct my case because it may be devastating to my case if I am not allowed to,” the defendant’s counsel stated.

After the judge overruled the objection, witness thereafter read out the part of the judgment that there was no court order for the school to return the money to EFCC or any judgment declaring the money as proceeds of money laundering.

The judgment also said AISA ought not to have paid the money to EFCC, that AISA could not pay the EFCC or any other person monies paid under the future fee agreement without an order of the court.

In addition, the judgment held that AISA had a binding contract with the Bello family on future fee payments of school fees of children in the school and they cannot derogate therefrom.

The witness also admitted that the name of Yahaya Bello was not on the letter for the payment of the $760,910 to American International School.

On the source of the payment of school fees to the school, the EFCC witness insisted that there was no wired transfer from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state.

“If you check the entire statement, is there any wired transfer coming from the Kogi State government? Any column?” The Defendant’s lawyer asked.

 “No, there is no such name,” the witness responded.

“What of any local government,” the Defendant’s lawyer asked further.

 Again, the witness said, “No.”

Meanwhile, trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite earlier overruled the EFCC in its objection to the admissibility of a judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in suit number FCT/HC/CV/2574/2023 between Mr Ali Bello and Incorporated Trustees of American International School.

Nwite held that the objection of the prosecution was preemptive, adding that the court had since moved away from the platform of technicalities to the platform of substantial justice.

He subsequently adjourned the case to May 9, 2025, for continuation of trial.