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Yahaya Bello’s Fraud Trial: Court Reveals How He Paid His Children’s School Fees in Dollars Till Graduation

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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.

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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.

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Saudi Prince Al-Waheed’s Family Celebrates His 36th Birthday Despite Prince’s Coma

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Saudi Arabia Sleeping Prince, Prince Al-Waleed, makes headlines as he celebrates his 36th birthday while still in a long time coma.

It can be noted that the young prince got into a come back in 2005 after he was diagnosed with brain hemorrhage from a devastating car crash.

Since then the prince has been hooked on to life support in hopes for returning. Despite the many advisers that have stated to let him go, his father, Prince Khaled bin Tala, has refused.

He shares his belief that his son will return “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now.”


 

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Jamb Denies Posting Candidates Outside Chosen State

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed claims that it posted candidates outside their chosen examination centres for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, made it clear that the board values the convenience of candidates and ensures that everyone sits for the exam in a location they selected among the available Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

He explained that candidates have the full right to choose their preferred examination town during registration, and JAMB simply assigns them to a centre within that town.

Benjamin pointed fingers at some secondary school owners and candidates who, according to him, continue to mislead and extort parents by spreading false stories.

“Let’s be clear: candidates pick their preferred town during registration, and JAMB posts them to a centre in that town,” he said. “The rumours that candidates are being sent to places they didn’t choose are completely false and only aimed at damaging the board’s image.”

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To prove JAMB’s seriousness, Benjamin announced a financial reward for anyone who can provide solid evidence of a candidate posted outside their selected town. He also stated that any such proof should be sent within 96 hours to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) through WhatsApp at 08056003030, allowing an independent body to handle the verification.

Speaking further, he compared the exam day procedures to what is expected at airports. “If passengers can be told to arrive at the airport two hours before a flight, then it’s reasonable to ask candidates to arrive at CBT centres 90 minutes before their exam for verification purposes,” he said.

He pointed out that many parents do not realise that early arrival helps handle important processes before the exams begin.


 

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Cardoso says Tinubu’s Tough Reforms Are Showing Positive Results For Nigeria

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The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, says the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the past eighteen months are tough but already yielding positive results.

Cardoso made this known in excerpts released after the 2025 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. He said Nigeria’s delegation attended the meetings to showcase the economic steps taken under Tinubu’s leadership.

According to him, the country has strengthened its monetary buffers and is now in a better position to withstand external shocks. He assured Nigerians that although the reforms are not easy, they are pushing the economy from a place of weakness toward one of growing strength.

Since 2023, Tinubu’s government has rolled out major reforms like liberalising the foreign exchange market and removing fuel subsidies. Under Cardoso’s leadership, new measures like the FX code, the Electronic Foreign Exchange System (EFEMS), and the recapitalisation of the financial system were also introduced.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s inflation dropped to 23.18 percent in March 2025, while the interest rate stood at 27.50 percent in February, even as the cost of living remained high.

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