By Charles Pemu 
Abuja — In a major revelation during the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, a witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) admitted there was no evidence linking payments from the state government to the American International School in Abuja.
Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the school, testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), Ojehomon confirmed that no transfer was made from the Kogi State Government or its local governments to the school’s account.
“There is no such name,” Ojehomon said when asked if any payment came from Yahaya Bello or any Kogi State entity. He also confirmed that Bello’s name was not listed among those who paid school fees to the institution.
The EFCC alleges that funds suspected to be linked to money laundering were used to prepay school fees for Bello’s children at the American International School. However, the defence challenged this claim by tendering a judgment from a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which was admitted into evidence as Exhibit 19.
The judgment, in a civil case involving Ali Bello and the Incorporated Trustees of the school, found that there was no court order instructing the school to refund the money to the EFCC. It also held that the school had a binding contract with the Bello family to accept advance payment of tuition fees, and could not unilaterally cancel the agreement or return the funds.
Despite strong objections from EFCC counsel Olukayode Enitan (SAN), Justice Emeka Nwite overruled him and accepted the judgment into evidence. The judge emphasized that the court was guided by principles of substantial justice rather than technicalities.
Earlier, the EFCC had argued that the defence could not introduce documents until the prosecution had closed its case. But the judge rejected that view, stating that the relevance and admissibility of documents should guide their acceptance in court.
“The objection is preemptive,” Justice Nwite ruled. “The document is relevant, and I hereby admit it as Exhibit 19.”
The trial continues on May 9, 2025.