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, the statement confirms The Nation’s exclusive report that the institution refunded $760,910.84 to from the $845,852 fees allegedly deposited by Bello.
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 a period of 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 andNana-Fatima Bello Grade 2. The fifth for enrolment in August 2022 if application 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 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 wrong doing in relation to 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.”
THE NATION
