- The EFCC seized $760,910.84 from funds paid by Yahaya Bello to the American International School, Abuja, for his children’s tuition, suspecting money laundering.
- The school agreed to refund the amount after deducting educational services already rendered, with the EFCC exempting $84.942.00.
- The EFCC demanded the refund through a dedicated account with the CBN, and the school requested official banking details for the process.
Newsypeople – EFCC: American International School, Abuja, Refunds $760,000 to Yahaya Bello’s Children, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria has been involved in a controversy regarding the refund of $760,000 to the children of Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State. This situation has sparked a series of legal and financial maneuvers, with the American International School, Abuja, at the center of the dispute.
On April 17, 2024, EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Yahaya Bello at his residence in Abuja over allegations of an N80.2 billion fraud. This action was part of a broader investigation into the Bello family’s financial dealings, including the alleged misuse of government funds for the education of Bello’s children.
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The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has taken a stand in this matter, asserting that the sum of $845,852 was paid as tuition fees for the children of Yahaya Bello since September 7, 2021. The school calculated that $760,910 should be refunded to the EFCC, as this amount represents the educational services already rendered. AISA has requested the EFCC to provide authentic banking details for the refund, emphasizing that no further additional fees are expected for the students until they graduate.
In response to the EFCC’s allegations, Michael, an aide to Yahaya Bello, issued a statement to clarify the situation. He denied the allegations of corruption, stating that Yahaya Bello’s children had attended the American International School, Abuja, before he became Governor, and that he had paid their fees as and when due. The statement also refuted the claim that Bello paid the sum of USD720,000 or USD840,000, as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or circulated on the internet. It was clarified that the payments began in 2021 and were not made with funds from the Kogi State Government.
The situation escalated when the EFCC approached AISA to recover the funds, which led to a legal challenge. The FCT High Court, in a suit between Mr. Ali Bello and the Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, ruled that AISA could not lawfully refund the fees to a third party, including the EFCC, without the consent of the parties involved. The court mandated AISA to continue providing the services paid for with the fees.
This case highlights the complexities of financial investigations and the legal challenges faced by educational institutions in dealing with allegations of financial misconduct. It underscores the importance of transparency and the rule of law in addressing such issues, as well as the need for clear communication between all parties involved in financial transactions.
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