The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been contacted by the American International School of Abuja (AISA), requesting “authentic banking details” to refund fees paid for the children of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. A letter was addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC to inform them of this. According to the letter, the school has received a sum of $845,852 in tuition fees since September 7th, 2021. It was discovered that Bello paid an advance of $720,000 in school fees for five of his children using funds from the Kogi State Government. The children are in grades 2 to 8 at the school. The EFCC operatives surrounded Bello’s residence in Abuja on April 17th, attempting to arrest him for an alleged N80.2 billion fraud. The current Governor of Kogi, Usman Ododo, arrived at the property during the incident and reportedly whisked Bello away. The American school, AISA, stated that the sum to be refunded is $760,910 since they had already deducted educational services rendered. The letter reads, “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.” 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.” The EFCC has declared Bello wanted and the
Nigeria Immigration Service has placed the ex-governor on a watchlist.