The American International School, Abuja has explained why it turned over the advance tuition allegedly paid by former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello for five of his children to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Though the school didn’t mention Yahaya Bello in its explanation, but refunded $760,910.84 from the $845,852 fees allegedly deposited by Bello.
Recall that the EFCC had alleged the fund was part of the N80.2b of Kogi money converted to personal use by the ex-Governor.
The $845,852 was allegedly paid to the school by Bello in August 2021 to cover the education of four of his children in the school and another one “to be enrolled in August 2022 if application successful (sic) and there is space available.”
The fees were to cover 14 years (2021–2035) according to documents filed in court by the EFCC to support its case against the ex-Governor.
The four children were identified as Farid Bello Grade 8; Zahra Bello Grade 6; Na’Ima Bello Grade 4 and Nana-Fatima Bello Grade 2. The fifth for enrolment in August 2022 if the application is successful and there is space available is Zayyan Ali Bello Pre-School.
The Head of the American International School Abuja, Greg Hughes explained the school turned over the fund paid as school fees “by a family with children enrolled in the school” based on an EFCC investigation.
If explained recent media reports have highlighted issues between the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and AISA and a family with children enrolled at the school, stemming from an investigation carried out in 2022.
According to the institution: “As a school, we did accept an advance payment for school fees, and duly documented these fees in our records. Upon learning that the school fees we accepted in good faith were, in fact, part of an ongoing case with the EFCC, at no point has the school been accused of any wrongdoing concerning this case and we are cooperating fully with the EFCC to address matters currently before the courts.”
It stated since “these legal matters are being resolved within the judicial system and involve one of the families, the school will refrain from making any further comments at this time.”
In his reaction, Yahaya Bello denied paying $720,000 from the state treasury for his children’s tuition fees.
Bello, who left office as governor on 27 January, said his children’s educational pursuit at the American International School Abuja preceded his ascension to the Kogi State Government House in 2016.
“…Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government” a statement from Mr Bello’s media office on Friday said.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet,” the statement added.
The statement explained that when the EFCC approached the school to “illegally recover the funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCC’s unlawful acts.”
According to the statement, the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, restrained the school from returning the funds to the EFCC.
