Alleged Corruption: American School to refund $760,910 to EFCC as Yahaya Bello’s payments for children’s fees

*The American International School of Abuja requests the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to provide its ‘authentic banking details’ for the refund of funds previously indicated as part of the anti-graft Commission’s investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and family

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and family, the American International School of Abuja (AISA), FCT, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for refund of illegal fees paid for the children of the immediate-past governor of the confluence state.

It was gathered Bello’s children are in Grade Levels 2 to 8 at the school.

The school, in a recent letter by Greg Hughes, addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, confirmed that the sum of $845,852 had been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.

However, the sum to be refunded as taxpayers’ money is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered, stated AISA.

The school also noted in the letter: “Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family.

“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two US Dollars and eighty-four cents) in tuition, and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.”

It stated: “We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty-Four cents).

“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”

The American school said it would draw the attention of the Nigerian anti-graft agency, if there are any further deposits into its bank accounts by the Bello family.

Hughes further said: “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday, 13 August, 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.”

Earlier in the course of its investigation, the EFCC operatives April 17 this year, had laid siege on Yahaya Bello’s residence, in Abuja, in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

However, as the operatives were yet on the premises, Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State arrived at the property, and reportedly whisked Bello away.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of EFCC, later disclosed that Yahaya Bello, transferred $720,000 from the state government’s coffers to a Bureau De Change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s tuition.

Meanwhile, the country’s anti-graft regulatory agency has since declared Bello wanted, just as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed the embattled ex-governor of Kogi State on a watch list.