The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, 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.
EFCC operatives had on April 17, 2024, laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
However, Usman Ododo, who succeeded Bello as Kogi governor of Kogi, reportedly whisked Bello away during the siege by the EFCC operatives.
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”.
The school said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
The letter 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.
“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.”
The school said the attention of the anti-graft agency would be drwan if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.
The statement signed by Greg Hughes, added that “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”.
The former Kogi governor has been declared wanted by the EFCC for evading arrest.
