Court Hears School Acted Wrongly in Fee Refund Linked to Yahaya Bello Case

Proceedings in the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, continued at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, with a prosecution witness stating that a prior judgment faulted the refund of school fees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor with the American International School Abuja (AISA), made the disclosure during cross-examination by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu. He was asked to read portions of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a judgment in a suit filed by Ali Bello against the school.

According to the judgment, the court held that the school could not lawfully and unilaterally refund prepaid school fees amounting to $760,910.84 to a third party, including the EFCC, without due process or a valid court order. The ruling further declared that any such refund made without adherence to the agreement governing the fees constituted a breach.

Justice Maryanne Anenih had also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the school and its representatives from effecting any refund to the EFCC or any other party except by an order of a competent court or in line with due legal procedures.

After reading the excerpts in court, Ojehomon agreed that the implication of the judgment was that the school erred in refunding the money without a court directive.

Further testimony revealed that the prepaid school fees agreement, admitted as Exhibit AX4, did not bear the name or signature of Yahaya Bello. The witness also confirmed that no payment related to the fees originated directly from the former governor.

The court had earlier admitted the CTC of the judgment in the suit between Ali Bello and AISA as Exhibit AO.

Following the session, Justice Anenih adjourned ruling on a pending application challenging the court’s jurisdiction and fixed May 8 for the continuation of proceedings.