The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said American International School, Abuja has refunded $760,000 paid as advanced school fees by former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello for his children.
PUNCH reports that the EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed this on Friday.
“The school has refunded the entire $760, 000 to the EFCC’s recovery account,” he was quoted as saying.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede earlier said Bello took $720,000 from the coffers of Kogi State Government in the twilight of his administration for his children’s school fees.
The children are in grade levels two to eight at the school.
On Friday, court documents showing the school’s response asking the anti-graft agency to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees leaked on social media.
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”.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan breaks silence on Yahaya Bello’s ordeal with EFCC
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
“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,” the letter reads.
“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 it will draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.
In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said “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.”
As of press time, Bello had yet to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to take his plea in the fraud charges filed against him.
