American School Offers EFCC To Refund $760k Yahaya Bello Allegedly Stole From Kogi To Pay Children’s School Fees

Barely three days after EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede alleged that former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, withdrew $720,000 from the government account to a Bureau de Change to pay for his child’s school fees in advance – because he knew he was about to leave office, the American International School of Abuja has asked the anti-graft agency to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for Bello’s children.

The embattled governor’s children are in Grade Levels 2 to 8 at the school.

This offer from the school to refund the deposits will be seen by many as a confirmation of EFCC allegation against Bello, who had been evading arrest since April 17 when EFCC operatives laid siege on his Abuja in a bid to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date.”

AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

“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,” the letter reads.

It added, “Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84  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 $760,910.84.

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

The school assured that it would draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there were any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, 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”.