The American International School of Abuja has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to provide them with “authentic banking details” to refund fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, the immediate-past governor of Kogi state.
According to a receipt posted online, Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government. These children are enrolled in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school.
The refund request comes amidst ongoing investigations by the EFCC into an alleged N80.2 billion fraud involving Bello. Notably, on April 17, EFCC operatives besieged Bello’s residence in Abuja, aiming to arrest him.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, AISA disclosed that $845,852 had been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”. Deducting educational services already rendered, the school calculated the sum to be refunded as $760,910.
The letter states, “Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the funds mentioned above as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family.”
AISA asserted that no further additional fees are expected for tuition as the students’ fees have been settled until their graduation.
The school also indicated its intention to notify the anti-graft agency of any further deposits by the Bello family. Greg Hughes, speaking on behalf of AISA, revealed that “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday, August 13, 2021, requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.”
Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that Bello transferred $720,000 from the state’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to prepay for his child’s school fees. He emphasised the significance of addressing such financial improprieties, especially in a state like Kogi.
