The American International School of Abuja has refunded the sum of $760,910.84 reportedly deposited by the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello allegedly deposited $845,852 to the school for the education of his five children. The EFCC is prosecuting Bello for purportedly defrauding Kogi State of N80.2 billion.
According to EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede, Bello is accused of diverting state funds to pay the school fees. Bello denies these allegations, calling them blackmail.
The EFCC claims that $845,852 was deposited by Bello in August 2021 to cover the education of four of his children, with another child to be enrolled later. This payment was meant to cover tuition from 2021 to 2035.
The school refunded the fees in two installments, first $720,000 and later $40,910. It retained $84,942 for its services after mutual agreement with the EFCC.
The EFCC requested an official refund, which the school complied with, as revealed in a letter.
The letter said 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 the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 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 $760,910.84.
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from AISA.”
“One of the documents submitted to the court by the EFCC is an alleged agreement between one Ali Bello and the school for “Prepaid school fees until graduation”.