The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially acknowledged the receipt of a refund totaling $760,000, representing advanced school fees previously paid by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his children’s education at the American International School, Abuja.
News About Nigeria reported that the American International School of Abuja requested “authentic banking details” from the EFCC to facilitate the refund of fees paid for Bello’s children
In a statement on Friday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the development, stating, “The school has refunded the entire $760,000 to the EFCC’s recovery account.”
The school clarified that a total of $845,852 had been paid in tuition fees since September 7, 2021, and the sum to be refunded was adjusted to $760,910 after deducting educational services already rendered.
However, Yahaya Bello’s media office dismissed claims that the refund was due to the EFCC’s intervention, describing such narratives as “mischievous”.
The office clarified that Bello’s children had been attending the American International School before his tenure as governor and that their fees were paid without using Kogi State government funds.
The media office refuted allegations that Bello paid $720,000 or $840,000 in advance for his children’s education, claiming that payments began in 2021 and were not sourced from Kogi state funds.
The office also mentioned an ongoing court case regarding the payment and expressed confidence in the judicial process to establish the facts.
In response to the EFCC’s attempt to arrest Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud, the media office reiterated Bello’s commitment to due process and expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support.
Despite being declared wanted by the EFCC and placed on a watchlist by the Nigeria Immigration Service, Bello’s media office describes this as a “personal vendetta” and “blackmail”.
