Abuja American School writes EFCC, to refund Yahaya Bello’s $760k children’s school fees

The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide authentic banking details for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state.

It is alleged that Bello paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the funds of the Kogi state government. These children are in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud while laying siege on his residence in Abuja. However, Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi, reportedly arrived and whisked Bello away.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, AISA stated that $845,852 had been paid in tuition since September 7, 2021, and requested an official written request with authentic banking details for the refund of the mentioned funds. The school mentioned that $760,910 is to be refunded after deducting educational services already rendered.

AISA emphasized that no further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have been settled until they graduate from the school.

The school stated that it would inform the anti-graft agency if there were any further deposits by the Bello family.

Additionally, Greg Hughes, representing AISA, stated that Ali Bello contacted the school on August 13, 2021, to pay the family’s school fees in advance until the students graduate from high school.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that Yahaya Bello transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s school fee. He disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Abuja, expressing concerns over such actions, especially in a state like Kogi.