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 immediate past governor of Kogi state.
Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government. The children in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school have been receiving education there.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school stated that $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”. The school has deducted the cost of educational services already rendered and is requesting a refund of $760,910.
The letter from AISA reads, “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.”
AISA also stated that no further additional tuition fees are expected as the students’ fees have been settled until they graduate from the school.
The school has also announced that it will notify the anti-graft agency if the Bello family makes any further deposits.
In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA revealed that “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday, 13th August 2021, requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School”.
The EFCC had earlier declared Yahaya Bello wanted, and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) placed the ex-governor on a watchlist.
