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Yahaya Bello’s Fraud Trial: Court Reveals How He Paid His Children’s School Fees in Dollars Till Graduation
In the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, charged with an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud, significant revelations emerged during the recent court proceedings. On March 6, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, heard testimonies shedding light on financial transactions linked to the defendant.
Advance Payment of Children’s School Fees
Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School of Abuja (AISA), testified about the advance payment of school fees for Yahaya Bello’s children. Also, he identified the children as Zayan Bello, Zara Bello, Farid Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello, each admitted in different academic years.
Ojehomon revealed that in 2021, Ali Bello, a cousin of Yahaya Bello, contacted AISA to prepay the children’s tuition fees in U.S. dollars until their graduation. In addition, the payments amounted to $90,074 for Farid Bello, $87,470 for Zara Bello, $26,241 for Na’ima Bello, and $18,707 for Nana Bello.
Financial Documentation and Refunds
The prosecution presented various documents, including AISA admission letters, prepaid tuition agreements, payment records, email correspondences between Ali Bello and the school, and account statements from TD Bank USA and AISA.
These were admitted as exhibits without objection. Additionally, a letter from AISA to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicated a refund of $750,910.84 to the EFCC, with instructions for the refund to be made to a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.
Testimony on Kogi State Government House Account
Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), testified about the Kogi State Government House account, revealing total credits of ₦53.56 billion and debits of ₦53.55 billion between January 2019 and December 2020. Also, she confirmed multiple ₦10 million withdrawals made in favor of Abdulsalam Hudu on December 12, 2018, processed via over-the-counter cheques.
American International School of Abuja
The American International School of Abuja, established in 1993, is a private, non-profit, coeducational institution offering programs from preschool through grade 12.
Located in Nigeria’s capital, AISA serves a diverse, multicultural community, providing a U.S.-based curriculum accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The school year comprises two semesters, running from August to June, with approximately 182 instructional days. AISA’s mission is to “Challenge, Collaborate, Empower: Inspiring Global Citizens to be Lifelong Learners.”
Following these testimonies, Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to March 7, 2025, for continuation. The proceedings are closely monitored, given the serious nature of the allegations against the former governor.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will be leading a national prayer session focused on reviving Nigeria’s struggling economy. The prayer is scheduled to take place during the church’s July 2025 Thanksgiving Service, themed “Divine Intervention”, at the RCCG national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the event through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Pastor Adeboye acknowledged that both Nigeria and other countries are facing tough times. But he believes the current hardship is not beyond repair if people embrace faith and take positive action.
“Our nation is going through serious challenges, just like other parts of the world. But the truth is, we can overcome them with faith, as long as we don’t give room to fear or doubt,” Adeboye said. He encouraged Nigerians to reject negative confessions and instead focus on faith-driven solutions, adding that with God’s intervention, the country’s economic situation can still turn around.
The upcoming prayer session, according to him, is not just about asking for change but about opening doors to new opportunities and paving the way for national transformation.
Southern Lebanon witnessed one of its most serious attacks in months on Friday, June 27, after Israeli fighter jets bombarded areas around Nabatieh, a city located deep in Lebanon’s south. Eyewitnesses reported hearing several loud explosions as Israeli aircraft targeted hilltops and underground sites in two separate waves of strikes.
The Israeli military later confirmed the operation, saying they aimed at Hezbollah positions they claimed were being rebuilt in violation of last year’s ceasefire deal. According to Lebanese officials, the assault left one woman dead and over a dozen others injured after a residential building in Nabatieh was hit.
Local sources say the woman, reportedly a German national, had been staying in the apartment complex when it collapsed following the blast. Paramedics rushed several other residents, including those in nearby areas, to hospitals with varying injuries. The situation sparked panic across the city, with families evacuating damaged homes and roads filled with rescue teams.
Reason for the bombing
The Israeli army stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling what they described as a “reconstructed underground defense system” controlled by Hezbollah militants. According to them, Hezbollah has been rebuilding tunnels, weapons depots, and launch sites in the region, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which banned such military infrastructure close to the border.
Israeli officials also claimed that the explosion in the civilian building wasn’t directly caused by their missiles but was triggered by hidden Hezbollah weapons stored in the area, causing a secondary blast.
In response, Lebanon’s government strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun described Israel’s actions as a dangerous violation of the truce, adding that the attack could drag both sides back into open conflict. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also criticized the airstrikes, warning that Lebanon cannot tolerate repeated breaches of the ceasefire while civilians continue to suffer the consequences.
Customers of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) across Nigeria should brace for early branch closures on Monday, June 30, 2025, as the banking group kicks off its routine half-year audit.
In an official announcement shared on their verified X (formerly Twitter) page, GTCO informed customers that all their branches nationwide will stop attending to walk-in customers earlier than usual to allow for internal review processes.
The bank assured the public that this temporary adjustment is strictly for operational reasons tied to their mandatory half-year audit, a common practice among financial institutions to check financial records, processes, and compliance levels.
While in-person services will pause earlier that day, GTCO encouraged customers to make use of their digital banking platforms. Options such as internet banking, mobile apps, ATMs, and USSD codes, which will remain available 24/7 for essential banking transactions.
