The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that a total sum of $760,000 being advanced school fees paid by former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, for his children schooling at American International School, Abuja, has been refunded.
The school management had earlier requested authentic banking details from the EFCC to facilitate the refund.
Mr. Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of EFCC confirmed the refund to journalists in Abuja on Friday, stating that “the entire amount has been credited to its recovery account.”
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The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had accused the former governor of paying $720,000 as advance school fees for five of his children in grades two to eight. After the claim, the American School requested for the anti-graft agency’s banking details to refund such amount.
According to the school, from September 2021, the Bello family has paid a total of $845,852, comprising tuition fee and other charges. And that after the deduction of services already rendered toward education provision given out so far by the school authorities, net refundable stands at about $760,910.84.
The school confirmed that they did not expect any more tuition fees because the students’ fees have been paid till their graduation from ASIA.
A statement signed by AISA principal read: “From 7th September 2021 to date, the sum of $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two Dollars Eighty-Four Cents) only have been received into our bank account as payment for tuition fees and other charges.
“After deducting the amount due for educational services provided, the net figure to be refunded back to Government coffers stands at $760,910.84 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten Dollars Eighty-Four Cents) only.
“No more tuition charges are expected to be paid by the students as all their fees have been fully settled up to graduation from ASIA.
“The school management said it would alert the anti-graft agency should there be any further deposit by Bello family,”
Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC Chairman had earlier disclosed that Bello moved $720,000 from the state government’s coffers to a bureau de change before he left office.
Olukoyede expressed concern over such use of public funds especially in financially challenged states like Kogi.
Source: Punch Newspaper
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