The American International School of Abuja has written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, asking the Commission to provide authentic banking details for the refund of fees paid for the children of the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The anti-graft commission is seeking the arrest and possible prosecution of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State over alleged N80.2 billion in fraud.
One of the pieces of evidence the Commission claims to have had against Yahaya Bello was that the former governor, in the twilight of his administration, allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the treasury of the state.
Bello has been evading arrest and is said to have children who are in Grades 2 to 8 at the school.
The American International School, Abuja, however, following an investigation by the EFFC, has written the Commission and provided details of the transaction.
The letter, which was dated October 24, 2022, and addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, was confirmed by an official of the school to be authentic and that it was written in response to the EFCC investigation.
The school revealed that since September 7, 2021, to date, $845,852.84 in tuition and other fees have been deposited into its bank account.
According to the school, the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it has deducted educational services already rendered.
The letter read in part: “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 September 7, 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 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 $760,910.64. (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 AISA. Should any further deposits be made into AISA’s bank accounts, we will disclose and inform you immediately without delay,” it stated.
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