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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja that neither the Kogi State Government nor its local government areas (LGAs) transferred funds to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), for school fees.
Ojehomon, AISA’s internal auditor and the third prosecution witness in the N80.2 billion money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, also stated that Bello’s name did not appear among parents paying fees.
Under cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), Ojehomon reviewed AISA’s bank statements and confirmed, “No, there is no such name,” when asked if Kogi State or LGA transfers appeared.
He added, “No,” regarding Bello’s name on payment records. The testimony followed Justice Emeka Nwite’s ruling admitting a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court judgment (FCT/HC/CV/2574/2023) as Exhibit 19, despite EFCC objections.
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The FCT judgment, read by Ojehomon, stated, “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.” It affirmed AISA’s binding contract with the Bello family for future fee payments and ruled AISA should not have refunded $760,910 to the EFCC without a court order. Ojehomon confirmed Bello’s name was absent from the $760,910 payment letter.
Justice Nwite overruled EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro’s objection to the FCT judgment’s admissibility, citing Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act and a shift to “substantial justice” over technicalities: “The objection of the prosecution is indeed preemptive.” EFCC’s Olukayode Enitan (SAN) later objected to Ojehomon reading the judgment, arguing it was not his role, but Nwite allowed Daudu to proceed: “I should be allowed to conduct my case because it may be devastating to my case if I am not allowed.”
The case was adjourned to May 9, 2025, for further trial.
