A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello has told the court that a judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court faulted the decision of the American International School Abuja to refund prepaid school fees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Nicholas Ojehomon, the school’s internal auditor and the 14th prosecution witness, made the disclosure on Tuesday during cross-examination in the ongoing trial.
Ojehomon read portions of a Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered in a suit filed by Ali Bello against the school over the disputed fees.
According to the judgment, the school acted unlawfully by refunding $760,910.84 to the EFCC without a court order or the claimant’s consent.
Reading from the judgment, the witness quoted the court as declaring that the school “cannot lawfully and unilaterally” refund the prepaid school fees to the EFCC or any third party except in line with the agreement or by an order of court.
Another section of the judgment stated that any payment made to the EFCC or any other party without due process or the claimant’s approval amounted to a breach of the prepaid school fees agreement.
The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the school, its staff and representatives from refunding the money to the EFCC or any other person without a valid court order or due legal process.
After reading the excerpts, Ojehomon told the court the judgment implied that the school should not have refunded the fees to the EFCC without judicial authorisation.
The witness further confirmed that Bello was not a signatory to the prepaid school fees agreement tendered as exhibit AX4.
He added that throughout his eight to nine years as the school’s internal auditor, no payment linked to the agreement came directly from Bello.
The EFCC had alleged that Bello paid $760,910 in advance school fees for five of his children using funds belonging to the Kogi State Government.
In April 2024, the anti-graft agency confirmed that the school refunded the money to the commission.
Bello is standing trial alongside Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Shuaibu Oricha on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and alleged money laundering involving N110.4 billion.
