ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has contacted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking the agency to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The children are in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school.
The former governor is alleged to have made an advance payment of $720,000 in school fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.
Voiceofnaija.ng had reported how EFCC operatives on April 17 laid siege to Bello’s Abuja residence, in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
While the operatives were at the house, the present Governor of Kogi, Usman Ododo, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.
The American school in a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the anti-graft agency, said the sum of $845,852 had been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
According to the school, the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
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A statement signed by the Head of School, Greg Hughes, states that, “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.
“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.”
Also, the school said it would call the attention of the EFCC if there were any further deposits by the Bello family.
AISA also 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”.
Bello had since been declared wanted by the EFCC, with the Nigeria Immigration Service placing the ex-governor on a watchlist.