Receipts and other documents showing how Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, paid $845,000 to the American International School in Abuja in advance for his children’s fees have surfaced online.
The receipts were among documents marked as ‘exhibit h’ by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The document also showed a response by the American International School Abuja to EFCC on the agency’s request for refund of $760,910.84.
“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 by the school said.
“Since September 7, 2021 to date, $845,852.84 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 $760,910.64.
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA. Should any further deposits be made into ASIA’s bank account/s, we will disclose and inform you immediately without delay.”
Bello has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over ₦80.2 billion money laundering allegation.
On April 17, EFCC agents surrounded Bello’s Abuja home in a move to arrest him.
During the siege, Usman Ododo, the current governor of Kogi, stormed the residence and whisked away Bello.
Following these events, the EFCC issued a wanted notice for Bello. The Nigeria Immigration Service has also placed him on a watchlist.
The EFCC accused Bello, along with Alli Bello, Ododo’s chief of staff, and Daudu Suleiman, of misappropriating approximately N80.2 billion of Kogi’s funds.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, revealed how the former governor paid for his children’s school fees in advance from Kogi’s government account.
In the documents now viral on social media, Bello paid the money in batches to the American International School in Abuja between 2021 and 2022.
The documents also showed that the money will cover the five children’s fees until graduation. The children include Farid Bello (Grade 8), Zahra Bello (Grade 6), Na’ima Bello (Grade 4), Nana-Fatima Bello (Grade 2), and Zayyan Ali Bello (Pre-School), who will be enrolled in future.
See some of the documents below.
