Documents serving as exhibits have shown how Yahaya Bello allegedly paid school fees in advance for his family members already in the school and even those to be enrolled in future with hundreds of thousands of dollars withdrawn from the state coffers.
Recall that Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), disclosed that Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffers to pay his child’s school fee in advance.
The EFCC boss alleged that the former Kogi governor transferred money from the state coffers to a bureau de change operator, and used the money for his child’s school fee in advance. Olukoyede added that Bello made the payment in anticipation that his tenure was gradually coming to an end
Following an investigation by EFCC, the American International School, Abuja has written the Commission and provided details of the transaction.
The school wrote the commission to provide authentic banking details for the refund of fees paid for the children of the embattled former Governor.
The letter, which was dated October 24, 2022, and addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, was confirmed by an official of the school to be authentic and that it was written in response to the EFCC investigation.
The school revealed that since September 7, 2021, to date, $845,852.84 in tuition and other fees have been deposited into its bank account.
According to the school, the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it has deducted educational services already rendered.
The letter read in part: “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 September 7, 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 have been deposited into our bank account.
“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the state after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.64. (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 AISA.
“Should any further deposits be made into AISA’s bank accounts, we will disclose and inform you immediately without delay,” it stated.
