In a surprising development, the American International School of Abuja (AISA) has approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to facilitate the refund of over $760,000 in tuition fees paid by the family of Yahaya Bello, the immediate-past governor of Kogi State.
According to the school, the Bello family had paid a total of $845,852 in tuition and other fees for five of their children, who are enrolled in grades 2 to 8 at AISA. However, after deducting the educational services already rendered, the school has calculated that the net amount to be refunded is $760,910.
In a letter addressed to the EFCC’s Lagos zonal commander, AISA requested the anti-graft agency to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund, stating that no further additional fees are expected from the Bello family as the students’ fees have been settled until their graduation.
The school’s move comes in the wake of the EFCC’s recent attempts to arrest Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud. On April 17th, EFCC operatives laid siege to the ex-governor’s residence in Abuja, but he was reportedly whisked away by the current governor of Kogi, Usman Ododo, who arrived at the property.
AISA has assured the EFCC that it will draw the agency’s attention should there be any further deposits by the Bello family. The school also stated that Ali Bello, one of the ex-governor’s family members, had contacted the institution in August 2021, requesting to pay the family’s school fees in advance until the students graduate from high school.
The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) placing the ex-governor on a watchlist. This latest development involving the refund of the Bello family’s school fees adds another layer to the ongoing investigation into the former governor’s alleged financial misdeeds.
